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LIBRARY 

OF  THE  mm  7 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS'  'jf j,.  ,/(  ' 


SI  KLEQQ; 


HIS  DEVELOPMENT  FROM  A RAW  RECRUIT 
TO  A VETERAN. 


AND  OTHER  STORIES* 


COPYRIGHT,  1897,  BY 

Mcelroy,  shoppell  & Andrews. 


PUBLISHED  BY 

THE  NATIONAL  TRIBUNE, 
WASHINGTON,  D.  0. 


Jul  13  VI  g Prof  * .A^Hattt-aP  | Ocf 

- H - 


,x/s ' 

M li  i s 


B f!  7; 


i/itivnffiii  v di 

(i ; / 1 


PREFACE. 


P “Si  Klegg,  of  the  200th  Ind.,  and  Shorty,  his 
Partner,”  were  born  years  ago  in  the  brain  of  the 
Editor  of  THE  NATIONAL  TRIBUNE,  who  invented 
the  names  and  characters,  outlined  the  general 
plan,  ahd  wrote  a number  of  the  chapters.  Subse- 
quently, the  Editor,  having  many  other  important 
things  pressing  upon  his  attention,  called  in  an 
assiltanfc  to  help  on  with  the  work,  and  he  wrote 
other  chapters.  Subsequently,  without  the 
Edtior’s  ? knowledge  or  consent,  the  assistant 
adopted  the  work  as  his  own,  and  expanded  it 
into  a book. 

These  sketches  are  the  original  ones  published  in 
THE  NATIONAL  TRIBUNE,  revised  and  enlarged 
somewhat  by  the  Editor.  How  true  they  are  to 
nature  every  veteran  can  abundantly  testify  from 
his  own  service.  Really,  only  the  name  of  the  regi- 
ment was  invented.  There  is  no  doubt  that  there 
were  several  men  of  the  name  of  Josiah  Klegg  in 


the  Union: 


Army,  and  who  did  valiant  service  for 


the  Goveibment.  They  had  experiences  akin  to. 


if  not  identical  with,  those  narrated  here,  and  sul> 
stantially  every  man  who  faithfully  and  bravely 
carried*  a musket  in  defense  of  the  best 
Government  on  earth  had  sometimes,  if  not 
often,  experiences  of  which  those  of  Si  Klegg  are 
a strong  reminder. 

With  these  few  remarks  this  book  is  respect- 
fully dedicated  to  the  rank  and  file  of  the  grandest 
army  ever  mustered  for  war. 

THE  NATIONAL  TRIBUNE. 


SI  KLEGQ 

CHAPTER  L 


GOING  TO  WAR— SI  KLEGG’S  COMPLETE  EQUIPMENT 
AND  WHAT  BECAME  OF  IT. 


After  Si  Klegg  had  finally  yielded  to  his  cumu- 
lative patriotic  impulses  and  enlisted  in  the  200th 
Ind.  for  three  years  or  until  the  rebellion  was  put 
down,  he  began  with  great  earnestness  and  so- 
lemnity to  equip  himself  for  his  new  career. 

He  was  thrifty  and  provident,  and  believed  in 
being  ready  for  any  emergency.  His  friends  and 
family  coincided  with  him.  The  Quartermaster 
provided  him  with  a wardrobe  that  was  service- 
able, if  not  stylish,  but  there  were  many  things 
that  he  felt  he  would  need  in  addition. 

“You  must  certainly  have  a few  pairs  of  home- 
knit  socks  and  some  changes  of  underclothes,” 
said  his  tearfully-solicitous  mother.  “They  won’t 
weigh  much,  and  they’ll  in  all  likelihood  save 
you  a spell  of  sickness,” 

“Certainly,”  responded  JosisL,  * wouldn’t 
think  of  going  away  without  ’em.” 

Into  the  capacious  knapsack  went  several 
pounds  of  substantial  knit  woolen  goods 


“You  can’t  get  along  without  a couple  of  towels 
and  a piece  of  soap,”  said  his  oldest  sister,  Maria, 
as  she  stowed  those  things  alongside  the  socks 
and  underclothes. 

“Si,”  said  Ellen,  his  second  sister,  “I  got  this 
pocket  album  for  my  gift  to  you.  It  contains  all 
our  pictures,  and  there  is  a place  for  another’s 
picture,  whose  name  I suppose  I needn’t  men- 
tion,” she  added  archly. 

Si  got  a little  red  in  the  face,  but  said: 

“Nothing  could  be  nicer,  Nell.  It’ll  be  the  great- 
est comfort  in  the  world  to  have  all  your  pictures 
to  look  at  when  I’m  down  in  Dixie.” 

“Here’s  a ‘housewife’  I’ve  made  for  you  with 
my  own  hands,”  added  Annabel,  who  was  some 
other  fellow’s  sister.  She  handed  him  a neatly- 
stitched  little  cloth  affair.  “You  see,  it  has  needles, 
thread,  buttons,  scissors,  a fine-to6th  comb, 
and  several  other  things  that  you’ll  need  very 
badly  after  you’ve  been  in  camp  awhile.  And” 
(she  got  so  near  Si  that  she  could  whisper  the 
rest)  “you’ll  find  in  a little  secret  pocket  a lock 
of  my  hain  which  I cut  off  this  morning.” 

*1  suppose  r’U  have  a good  deal  of  leisure  time 
while  we’re  in  camp,”  said  Si  to  himaeif  and  the 
others;  “I  believe  I’ll  just  put  this  Hay’s  Arith- 
metic and  Greene’s  Grammar  in.” 

“Yes,  my  yoim?-  friend/*  add^d  the  Bey.  Boan- 
erges. hao  jsist  entered  the  house,  “and  as 
foti  will  tx?  exposed  to  new  and  unusual  tempta- 


GOING  TO  WAE. 


tions,  I thought  it  would  be  judicious  to  put  this 
volume  of  “Baxter’s  Call  to  the  Unconverted’  in 
your  knapsack,  for  it  may  give  you  good  coun- 
sel when  you  need  it  sorely.” 

“Thankee,”  said  Si,  stowing  away  the  book. 

Of  course,  Si  had  to  have  a hair-brush,  black- 
ing-brush, a shaving-kit,  and  some  other  toilet 
appliances.  Then  it  occurred  to  his  thoughtful 
sister  Maria  that  he  ought  to  have  a good  supply 
of  stationery,  including  pens,  a bottle  of  ink,  and 
a portfolio  on  which  to  write  when  he  was  far 
away  from  tables  and  desks.  These  went  in, 
accompanied  by  a half-pint  bottle  of  “No.  6,”  which 
was  Si’s  mother’s  specific  for  all  the  ills  that 
flesh  is  heir  to.  Then,  the  blanket  wThich  the 
Quartermaster  had  issued  seemed  very  ligl  t and 
insufficient  to  be  all  the  bed-clothes  a man 
would  have  when  sleeping  on  the  bare  ground, 
and  Si  rolled  up  one  of  the  warm  counterpanes 
that  had  helped  make  the  Indiana  Winter  nights 
so  comfortable  for  him. 

“Seems  rather  heavy,”  said  Si  as  he  put  his 
knapsack  on;  “but  I guess  I’ll  get  used  to  it  in 
a little  while.  They  say  that  soldiers  learn  lo 
carry  surprising  loads  on  their  backs.  It’ll  help 
cure  me  of  being  round-shouldered;  it’ll  be  bettei 
’n  shoulder-braces  for  holding  me  up  straight.” 

Of  course,  his  father  couldn’t  let  him  go  away 
without  giving  him  something  that  would  con- 
tribute to  his  health  and  comfort,  and  at  last  the 


8 


SI  KLEGG. 


old  gentleman  had  a happy  thought — he  would  get 
the  village  shoemaker  to  make  Si  a pair  of  his 
best  stout  boots.  They  would  be  ever  so  much 
better  than  the  shoes  the  Quartermaster  fur- 
nished for  tramping  over  the  muddy  roads  and 
swamps  of  the  South.  Si  fastened  these  on  tog 
of  his  knapsack  until  he  should  need  them  worse 
than  at  present. 

His  old  uncle  contributed  an  immense  bowie 
knife,  which  he  thought  would  be  of  gre&t  use  in 
the  sanguinary  hand-to-hand  conflicts  Si  would 
have  to  wage. 

On  the  way  to  the  depot  Si  found  some  of  his 
comrades  gathered  around  an  enterprising  retail 
dealer  in  hardware,  who  was  convincing  them 
that  they  could  serve  their  country  much  better, 
besides  adding  to  their  comfort,  by  buying  from 
him  a light  hatchet  and  a small  frying-pan, 
which  he  offered,  in  consideration  of  their  being 
soldiers,  h*  sell  them  at  remarkably  low  rates.  Si 
saw  at  onoe  the  great  convenience  a hatchet  and 
a frying-pan  would  be,  and  added  them  to  his  kit. 
An  enterprising  dealer  in  tinware  succeeded  in 
selling  him,  before  he  reached  the  depot,  a cun- 
ning little  coffee-pot  and  an  ingenious  combina- 
tion of  knife,  fork  and  spoon  which  did  not  weigh 
more  than  a pound. 

Wh«n  he  got  in  the  cars  he  was  chagrined  to 
And  that  several  of  his  comrades  had  provided 
themselves  with  convenient  articles  that  he  had 


GOING  TO  WAR. 

not  thought  of.  He  consoled  himself  that  the 
regiment  would  stop  some  time  in  Louisville, 
when  he  would  have  an  opportunity  of  making 
up  his  deficiencies. 

But  when  the  200th  reached  Louisville  there 


SI  KLEQG  AS  HE  ENTERED  LOUISVILLE. 

was  no  leisure  for  anything.  Bragg  was  theu 
running  his  celebrated  foot-race  with  Buell  for 
the  Kentucky  metropolis,  and  the  200th  Ind.  was 
trotted  as  rapidly  as  their  unused  legs  could  carry 


10 


SI  KLEGG. 


them  to  the  works  several  miles  from  the  centeT 
of  the  city.  Our  artist  gives  some  idea  of  the 
way  that  Si  Klegg  looked  as  he  descended  from 
the  cars  and  got  ready  for  the  march.  The  same 
picture  will  do  for  900  out  1,000  of  Si’s  comrades. 

Everybody  who  was  in  that  campaign  remem- 
bers how  terribly  hot  and  dry  everything  was. 

Si  Klegg  managed  to  keep  up  tolerably  near 
the  head  of  the  column  until  camp  was  reached, 
but  his  shoulders  were  strained  and  blisters  be- 
gan to  appear  on  his  feet. 

“That  was  a mighty  tough  pull,  wasn’t  it?” 
he  said  to  his  chum  as  they  spread  their  blan- 
kets on  the  dog-fennel  and  made  some  sort  of  a 
bed;  “but  I guess  after  a day  or  two  we’ll  get  so 
used  to  it  that  we  won’t  mind  it.” 

For  a few  days  the  200th  Ind  lay  in  camp,  but 
one  day  there  came  an  order  for  the  regiment 
to  march  to  Bardstown  as  rapidly  as  possible. 
A battle  was  imminent.  The  roads  were  dusty 
as  ash-heaps,  and  though  the  pace  was  not  three 
miles  an  hour,  the  boys’  tongues  were  hanging 
out  before  they  were  out  of  sight  of  camp. 

*1  sav,  Captain,  don’t  they  never  have  resting 
spells  in  the  army?”  said  Si. 

“Not  on  a forced  march,”  answered  the  Captain, 
w^o,  haring  been  in  the  first  three  months’  serv- 
ice, was  regarded  as  a veteran.  “Push  on,  boys; 
tl^y  say  that  they’ll  want  us  before  night.” 
Another  hour  passed* 


GOING  TO  WAR. 


11 


r “Captain,  I don’t  believe  you  can  put  a pin- 
point anywhere  on  my  feet  that  ain’t  covered 
with  a blister  as  big  as  a hen’s  egg,”  groaned  Si. 

“It’s  too  bad,  I know,”  answered  the  officer; 
“but  you  must  go  on.  They  say  Morgan’s  cav- 
alry are  in  our  rear  shooting  down  every  straggler 
they  can  find.” 

Si  saw  the  boys  around  him  lightening  their 
knapsacks.  He  abominated  waste  above  all 
things,  but  there  seemed  no  help  for  it,  and, 
reaching  into  that  receptacle  that  bore  down  upon 
his  aching  shoulders  like  a glacier  on  a ground- 
hog, he  pulled  out  and  tossed  into  the  fence  coi- 
ners the  educational  works  he  had  anticipated 
so  much  benefit  from.  The  bottle  of  “No.  6”  fol- 
lowed, and  it  seemed  as  if  the  knapsack  was 
a ton  lighter,  but  it  yet  weighed  more  than  any 
stack  of  hay  on  the  home  farm. 

A cloud  of  dust  whirled  up,  and  out  of  it  ap- 
peared a galloping  Aid. 

“The  General  says  that  the  200th  Ind.  must 
push  on  much  faster.  The  enemy  is  trying  to 
get  to  thb  bridge  ahe<*d  of  them,”  he  shouted  as 
he  dashed  off  in  another  cloud  ol 

A few  shots  were  heard  m the  r«ar. 

“Morgan’s  cavalry  are  shooting  some  mcr* 
straggler^/’  shouted  some  one. 

Si  was  getting  desperate.  He  unrolled  the 
counterpane  and  slashed  it  into  strips  with  ni$ 
bowie.  “My  mother  made  that  with  her  own 


12 


81  KLEGG. 


hands,”  he  explained  to  a comrade,  “and  if  I 
can’t  have  the  good  of  it  no  infernal  rebel  shall., 
Be  next  slashed  the  boots  up  and  threw  them 
after  the  quilt,  and  then  hobbled  on  to  overtake 
the  rest  of  his  company. 

“There’s  enough  dry  goods  and  clothing  lvihsr 
along  in  the  fence  corners  to  supply  a good  sized 
town,”  the  Lieutenant-Colonel  reported  as  he  rode 
over  the  line  of  march  in  rear  of  the  regiment. 

The  next  day  fei’s  feet  felt  as  if  there  was  a 
separate  and  individual  jumping  toothache  in 
every  sinew*,  muscle,  tendon  and  toe-nail;  but 
that  didn’t  matter.  With  Bragg’s  infantry  ahead 
and  John  Morgan’s  cavalry  in  the  rear,  the  200th 
Ind.  had  to  go  forward  so  long  as  the  boys  could 
put  one  foot  before  the  other.  The  unloading 
went  on  even  more  rapidly  than  the  day  before. 

“My  knapsack  looks  like  an  elephant  had  stept 
on  it,”  Si  said,  as  he  ruefully  regarded  it  in  the 
evening.  9 

“Shot*  me  one  in  the  regiment  that  don’t,” 
answered  his  comrade. 

Thenceforward  everything  seemed  to  conspire 
to  teach  SI  how  vain  and  superfluous  were  the 
tnings  of  this  world.  The  first  rain-storm  soaked 
his  cherished  album  until  it  fell  to  pieces,  and 
his  sister’s  portfolio  did  the  same.  B > put  the 
photographs  in  his  blouse  pocket  and  got  along 
just  as  well.  When  he  wanted  to  write  he  got 
paper  from  the  sutler.  A mule  tramped  on  hia 


GOING  TO  WAR. 


13 


fancy  coffee-pot,  and  he  found  he  could  make 
quite  as  good  coffee  in  a quart-cup.  A wagon- 
wheel  ran  over  his  cherished  frying-pan,  and  he 
melted  an  old  canteen  in  two  and  m^de  a lighter 
and  handier  pan  out  of  one-half  of  it.  He  broke 
his  bowie-knife  prying  the  lid  off  a cracker-box. 
He  piled  his  knapsack  with  the  others  one  day 
when  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  strip  them  off 
for  a charge,  and  neither  he  nor  his  comrades 
ever  saw  one  of  them  again.  He  never  attempted 
to  replace  it.  He  learned  to  roll  up  an  extra 
pair  of  socks  and  a change  of  underclothing  in 
his  blanket,  tie  the  ends  of  this  together  and 
throw  it  over  his  shoulder  sash  fashion.  Then, 
with  his  socks  drawn  up  over  the  bottoms  of 
his  pantaloons,  three  days’  rations  in  his  haver- 
sack and  40  rounds  in  his  cartridge-box,  he  was 
ready  to  make  his  30  miles  a day  in  any  direc- 
tion he  might  be  sent,  and  whip  anything  that 
he  encountered  on  the  road. 


SI  KLEGG. 


CHAPTER  H. 


THE  OLD  CANTEEN — THE  MANY  AND  QUEER  USES 
WHICH  IT  WAS  AT  LAST  PUT. 


When  Josiah  (called  “Si”  for  short)  Klegg,  of 
the  200th  Ind.,  drew  tiis  canteen  from  the  Quar- 
termaster at  Louisville,  he  did  not  have  a very 
high  idea  of  its  present  or  prospective  import- 
ance. In  the  22  hot  Summers  that  he  had  lived 
through  he  had  never  found  himself  very  far 
from  a well  or  spring  when  his  thirst  cried  out  to 
be  slaked,  and  he  did  not  suppose  that  it  was 
much  farther  between  wells  down  South. 

“I  don’t  see  the  use  of  carrying  two  or  three 
pints  o’  water  along  all  day  right  past  springs 
and  over  cricks,”  he  remarked  to  his  chum,  as 
the  two  were  examining  the  queer,  cloth-cov- 
erea  cans. 

“We’ve  got  to  take  ’em,  any  way,”  answered 
his  chum,  resignedly.  “It’s  regulations.” 

On  his  entry  into  service  a boy  accepted  every- 
thing without  question  when  assured  that  it  was 
“regulations.”  He  would  have  charged  bayo- 
nets on  a buzz-saw  if  authoritatively  informed 
that  it  was  required  by  the  mysterious  “regula- 
tions.” 

The  long  march  the  200th  Ind.  made  after  Bragg 


THE  OLD  CANTEEN. 


15 


orer  the  dusty  turnpikes  the  first  week  in  Ucto- 
ber,  1862,  taught  Si  the  value  of  a canteen. 
AHer  that  it  was  rarely  allowed  to  get  empty. 
When  it  didn’t  have  water  in  it,  it  had  milk, 


STEENY  JOHNSON  ENJOYING  THE  RESULTS  OP  SI  KL3GGVS 
FORAGING. 

molasses,  or  even  apple-jack,  for  Si  then  was 
not  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Good 
Templars,  of  which  society  he  is  now  an  honored 
officer.  Nothing  could  be  nicer,  when  he  was 


\ 


16 


61  KLEGG. 


t- 

de 


on  picket,  to  bring  buttermilk  in  from  the  neigh- 
boring farm-house  tq  his  chum  Steeny  Johnsoi, 
who  stood  post  while  he  was  gone. 

Later  in  the  service  Si  learned  the  inestima- 
ble value  of  coffee  to  the  soldier  on  the  marqn. 
Then  he  stript  the  cloth  from  his  canteen,  fa 
ened  the  straps  on  with  bits  of  wire  and  me 
a fine  coffeepot  of  it.  In  the  morning  he  wo^ild 
half  fill  it  with  the  splendid  coffee  the  Govern- 
ment furnished,  fill  it  up  with  water  and  hang  it 
from  a bush  or  a stake  over  the  fire,  while  he 
went  ahead  with  his  other  culinary  preparations. 
By  the  time  these  were  finished  he  would  haj^e 
at  least  a quart  of  magnificent  coffee  that  the 
cook  of  the  Fifth  Avenue  could  not  surpass,  and 
which  would  last  him  until  the  regiment  halted 
in  the  afternoon. 

The  bully  of  the  200th  took  it  into  his  thick 
head  one  day  to  try  to  “run  over”  Si.  The  latter 
had  just  filled  his  canteen,  and  the  bully  found 
that  the  momentum  of  three  pints  of  water  swung 
at  arm’s  length  by  an  angry  boy  was  about  equal 
to  a mule’s  kick. 

Just  as  he  was  beginning  to  properly  appreci- 
ate his  canteen,  he  learned  a sharp  lesson,  that 
comes  to  all  of  us,  as  to  how  much  “cussedness” 
there  can  be  in  the  simplest  things  when  they 
happen  to  go  wrong.  He  went  out  one  day  and 
got  a canteen  of  nice  sweet  milk,  which  he  and 
Shorty  heartily  enjoyed.  He  hung  the  canteen 


THE  OLD  CANTEEN. 


17 

up  on  the  ridge  pole  of  the  tent,  oral  0 «.^ht  no 

more  about  it  until  the  next  day,  when  he  came 
in  from  drill,  and  found  the  tent  filled  with  an 
odor  so  vile  that  it  made  him  cough. 


“Why  in  thundeT  don’t  the  ColaKel  send  eset  a 
detail  to  find  and  bury  that  dead  mule?  it’ll 
pizen  the  hull  camp.” 

He  had  been  in  service  just  long  enough  to 
believe  that  the  Colonel  ought  to  lech  kn 
and  attend  to  everything. 


18 


SI  KLEQa 


"’Taint  no  dead  mule,”  said  Shorty,  whose  nose 
had  come  close  to  the  source  of  the  odor.  "It’s 
this  blamed  canteen.  What  on  earth  hare  you 
been  putting  in  it,  Si?” 


THE  HAJjI'-CA_NTKEIN  AS  A FETTNO-PAN, 

“Ha  Tut  had  nothin’  in  but  that  sweet  milk 
yesterday.”  * 

“That’s  just  what’s  the  matter,”  said  the 
Orderly,  who,  having  been  in  the  three  months’ 
service,  knew  all  about  war.  He  had  come  in  to 


19 


THE  OLD  CANTEEN. 

detail  Si  and  Shorty  to  help  unload  Quartermaster’s 
stores.  “You  must  always  scald  out  your  can- 
teens when  you’ve  had  milk  in  ’em.  Don’t  you 
remember  how  careful  your  mother  is  to  scald 
hr  milk  pans?” 


After  the  company  wagon  had  run  #ver  and 
hopelessly  ruined  the  neat  little  frying-pan  which 
Si  had  brought  from  Posey  County,  he  was  in 
despair  asJ;o  how  he  should  fry  his  meat  and  cook 


SI  KLEGG. 


20 

his  “lobscouse.”  Necessity  is  the  mother  of  in- 
vention. He  n lud  in  two  a canteen  he  picked 
up, and  found  its  halves  made  two  deep  tin  pans, 
very  light  and  very  handy.  A split  stick  made 
a handle,  and  he  had  as  good  a frying-pan  as 
the  one  he  had  lost,  and  much  more  convenient, 
for  when  done  using  the  handle  was  thrown 
away,  and  the  pan  slipt  into  the  haversack, 
where  it  lay  snug  and  close,  instead  of  clattering 
about  as  the  frying  pan  did  when  the  regiment 
moved  at  the  double  quick. 

The  other  half  of  the  canteen  was  useful  to 
brown  cotfee,  bake  hoe-cake,  and  serve  for  toilet 
purposes. 

One  day  on  the  Atlanta  campaign  the  regiment 
moved  up  in  line  to  the  top  of  a bald  hill.  As 
it  rose  above  the  crest  it  was  saluted  with  a 
terrific  volley,  and  saw  that  another  crest  across 
he  narrow  valley  was  occupied  by  at  least  a 
' ode  of  rebels. 

vVeTl  stay  right  here,  boys,”  said  the  plucky 
ie  Colonel,  who  had  only  worn  Sergeant’s 
ipes  when  the  regiment  crossed  the  Ohio 
ver.  “We’ve  pre-empted  this  bit  of  real  estate, 
avia  we’ll  hold  it  against  the  whole  Southern 
Confederacy.  I*reak  for  that  fence  there,  boys, 
and  every  fellow  come  back  with  a couple  of  rails. ” 
It  seemed  as  if  he  hardly  ceased  speaking 
when  the  boys  came  running  back  with  the 
rails  which  they  laid  down  along  the  crest,  and 


THE  OLD  CANTEEN. 


21 


dropping  flat  behind  them,  began  throwing  the 
gravelly  soil  over  them  with  their  useful  half- 
canteens. In  vain  the  shower  of  rebel  bullets 
struck  and  sang  about  them.  Not  one  could 
penetrate  that  little  ridge  of  earth  and  rails, 


THE  HALF-CANTEEN  AS  AN  INTRENCHING  TOOL. 


which  in  an  hour  grew  into  a strong  rifle-mt 
against  which  the  whole  rebel  brigade  charged, 
only  to  sustain  a bloody  repulse. 

The  war  would  have  lasted  a good  deal  longer 
had  it  not  been  for  the  daily  help  of  the  ever-tise- 
ful  half-canteen 


2 2 


SI  KLEGG. 


CHAPTER  m. 

THE  DEADLY  BAYONET— IT  IS  USED  FOR  NEARLY 
EVERYTHING  ELSE  THAN  FOR  PRODDING  MEN. 

In  common  with  every  other  young  man  who 
enlisted  to  defend  the  glorious  Stars  and  Stripes, 
Si  Klegg,  of  the  200th  Ind.,  had  a profound  super- 
stition concerning  the  bayonet.  All  the  war  liter- 
ature he  had  ever  read  abounded  in  blood-curd- 
ling descriptions  of  bayonet  charges  and  hand-to- 
hand  conflicts,  in  which  bayonets  were  repeat- 
edly thrust  up  to  the  shanks  in  the  combatants’ 
bodies  just  as  he  had  put  a pitch-fork  into  a 
bundle  of  hay.  He  had  seen  pictures  of  English 
regiments  bristling  with  bayonets  like  a porcu- 
pine with  quills,  rushing  toward  French  regi- 
ments which  looked  as  prickly  as  a chestnut  bur, 
and  in  his  ignorance  he  supposed  that  was  the 
way  fighting  was  done.  Occasionally  he  would 
have  qualms  at  Jl  he  thought  of  how  little  his 
system  was  suited  to  have  cold  steel  thrust 
through  it  promiscuous-like,  but  he  comforted 
himself  with  the  supposition  that  he  would  prob- 
ably get  used  to  it  in  time — “soldiers  get  used  to 
almost  anything,  you  know/ 

When  the  20(Hh  Ind.  drew  its  guns  at  Indian- 
apolis he  examined  all  the  strange  accouter- 
ments with  interest,  but  gave  most  to  the  trian- 


THE  DEADLY  BAYONET. 


23 


gular  bit  of  steel  which  writers  who  have  never 
seen  a battle  make  so  important  a weapon  in 
deciding  contests. 

“What  are  these  grooves  along  each  side  for?” 
he  asked,  pointing  out  the  little  hollows  which 
give  the  “prod”  lightness  and  strength 

“Why,”  answered  the  Orderly,  who,  having  been 
in  the  three-months’  service,  assumed  to  know 
more  about  war  than  the  Duke  of  Wellington, 
“the  intention  of  those  is  to  make  a wound  the 
lips  of  which  will  close  up  when  the  bayonet  is 
pulled  out,  so  that  the  man’ll  be  certain  to  die.” 

Naturally  so  diabolical  an  intention  sent  cold 
shivers  down  Si’s  back. 

. The  night  before  Si  left  for  “the  front”  he  took 
his  musket  and  accouterments  home  to  show 
them  to  his  mother  and  sisters — and  the  other 
fellow’s?  sister,  whose  picture  and  loA  of  hair  he 
had  safely  stowed  away.  They  looked  upon  the 
bayonet  with  dreadful  awe.  Tears  into 

Maria’s  eyes  as  she  thought  of  A .naming 
through  the  South  like  * uand;<  plunging  that 
cruel  steel  into  people  s oowexs. 

“This  is  the  way  it’s  done,”  said  Si, 
charged  about  ±he  in  an  imaginary 

with  a rebel,  winding  up  with  a terriP  ing  I u : 
“Die,  Tur-r-r-raitor,  gaul  durn^ve!”  he  exc'aim 
for  he  was  really  getting  excited  over  the  matu  r, 
while  the  girls  screamed  and  jumped  upon  the 
chairs,  and  his  good  mother  almost  fainted. 


24 


KLEGG. 


The  attention  that  the  200th  Ind.  had  to  give 
to  the  bayonet  drill  confirmed  Si’s  deep  respect 
lor  the  weapon,  and  he  practiced  assiduously 
all  the  “lunges,”  “parries,”  and  “guards”  in  the 
Manual,  in  the  hope  that  proficiency  so  gained 


: I save  Ills  own  dearly -beloved  hide  from 
c1  'iv,  and  enable  him  to  punch  any  luckless 
vi  that  he  might  encounter  as  full  of  holes  as 

The  200th  In  d/s  first  fight  was  at  Perry  ville, 


THE  DEADLY  BAYONET. 


25 


but  though  it  routed  the  rebel  force  in  front  of 
it,  it  would  have  taken  a bayonet  half-a-mile 
long  to  touch  the  nearest  “Johnny.”  Si  thought 
it  odd  that  the  rebels  didn’t  let  him  get  close 
enough  to  them  to  try  his  newjbayonet,  and  pitch 
a dozen  or  two  of  them  over  into  the  next  field. 

If  the  truth  must  be  told,  the  first  blood  that 
stained  Si’s  bayonet  was{notjthat  of  a fellow-man. 
The  cut  shows  how  it  came  about. 

Si  Klegg’s  companyjwTas  on  picket  one  day,  while 
Gen.  Buellwas  trying  to  make|up  his  mind  what 
to  do  with  Bragg.  Rations  had  been  a little 
short  for  a week  or  so.  In  fact,  they  had  been 
scarcely  sufficient  to  meet  the  demands  of  Si’* 
appetite,  and  his  haversack  had  nothing  in  it  to 
speak  of.  Strict  orders  against  toraging  Pad  been 
issued.  It  was  the  day  of  “guarding  rebel  onion 
patches.”  Si  couldn’t  quite  get  it  straight  in 
his  head  why  the  General  should  be  so  mighty 
particular  about  a few  pigs  and  cnickeiis  and 
sweet  potatoes,  for  he  was  really  getting  hungry, 
and  when  a man  is  in  this  condition  he  is  not  in 
a fit  snood  to  grapple  with  fine -spun  theories  cl 
governmental  policy. 

So  when  a fat  pig  came  wabbiing  and  giunripg 
toward  his  post,  it  was  to  Si  like  * vision  of 
manna  to  the  children  of  Israel  in  the  wilderness. 
A wild,  uncontrollable  desire  to  taste  a fresh 
spare-rib  took  possession  of  him.  Naturally,  his 
first  idea  was  to  send  a bullet  through  tire  ani* 


26 


SI  KLEGG. 

i 

mal,  but  on  second  thought  he  saw  that  'wouldn’t 
do  at  all.  It  would  “give  him  away”  at  once,  and, 
besides,  he  had  found  that  a single  shot  on  the 
picket  line  would  keep  Buell’s  entire  army  inline- 


“I  GUESS  NOT.” 


' ie  lor  a wh'de  day.  Then  he  thought  of 
he  bayonet,  and  the  scene  so  well  depicted  by 

our  artist  followed. 

Si  wrote  to  his  mother  that  his  bright  new 
bavonet  we"  stained  with  Southern  blood,  and 
the  *>id  nsuy  «>vr«lrtisrpd  a*  the  awful  thought. 


THE  DEADLY  BAYONET.  27 

"But,”  added  Si,  “it  was  only  a pig,  and  not  a 
man,  that  I killed!” 

“I’m  so  glad!”  she  exclaimed. 

By  the  time  Si  had  been  in  the  service  a year 
there  was  less  zeal  in  the  enforcement  of  orders 


of  this  kind,  and  Si  had  become  a very  .skillfui 
and  successful  lorager.  Ho  bn;!  ■ y nk'e 

to  reach  with  his  bay  >• 


;UC 


28  SI  KLEGG. 

of  liis  misguided  fellow  citizens.,  but  lie  had  stall- 
bed  a great  many  pigs  and  sheep.  In  fact,  Si 
found  his  bayonet  a most  useful  auxiliary  in  his 
predatory  operations.  He  could  not  well  have 
gotten  along  without  it.  The  cut  shows  how  he 
generally  came  into  camp,  and  illustrates  one  of 
the  practical  uses  of  the  bayonet. 

Uncle  Sam  generally  furnished  Si  with  plenty 
of  [coffee — roasted  and  unground — but  did  not 
supply  him  with  a coffee-mill.  Si  thought  at 
first  that  the  Government  had  forgotten  some- 
thing. He  saw  that  several  of  the  old  veterans 
of  ’61  had  .'Tee-mills,  but  he  found  on  inquiry 
that  they  had  been  obtained  by  confiscation  only. 
He  determined  to  supply  himself  at  the  first  op- 
portunity, but  in  the  meantime  he  was  obliged 
to  use  his  bayonet  as  a substitute,  just  as  all  the 
jest  of  the  soldiers  did.  The  cut  shows  how  he 
did  it. 

We  regret  to  say  that  Si,  having  thrown  away 
his  “Baxter’s  Call  to  the  Unconverted”  in  his 
first  march,  and  having  allowed  himself  to  forget 
the  lessons  he  had  learned  but  a few  years  be- 
fore in  Sunday-school,  soon  learned  to  play  poker 
and  other  sinful  games.  These,  at  night,  devel- 
oped another  use  for  the  bayonet.  In  its  capac- 
ity as  a “handyv'  candlestick  it  was  “equaled  by 
few  and  excelled  by  none.”  The  “shank”  was 
always  ready  to  receive  the  candle,  while  the 
point  °>uld  be  thrust  into  the  ground  in  an  in- 


THE  DEADLY  BAYONET. 


29 


stant,  and  nothing  more  was  necessary.  This 
was  perhaps  the  most  general  sphere  of  useful- 
ness found  by  the  bayonet  during  the  war.  Bar- 


rels of  candle-grease  flowed  down  the  furrowed 
sides  of  this  weapon  for  every  drop  of  humaia 
blood  that  dimmed  its  luster. 


30 


SI  KLEGG. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

i 

THE  AWFUL  HARDTACK— THE  HARD  AND  SOLID 
STAFF  OF  MILITARY  LIFE. 

“Appetite’s  a queer  thing,”  said  Si  to  Shorty 
one  day,  when  both  were  in  a philosophical  mood. 
“It’s  an  awful  bother  when  you  haven’t  it,  and  it’s 
a great  deal  worse  when  you  have  it,  and  can’t  get 
anything  for  it.” 

“Same  as  money,”  returned  the  sage  Shorty 

During  the  first  few  months  of  Si  Klegg’s  serv- 
ice in  the  army  the  one  thing  that  bothered  him 
more  than  anything  else  was  his  appetite.  It 
was  a very  robust,  healthy  one  that  Si  had,  for 
he  had  grown  up  on  his  father’s  farm  in  Indiana, 
and  had  never  known  what  it  was  to  be  hungry 
without  abundant  means  at  hand  for  appeasing 
his  desires  in  that  direction.  His  mother’s  cup- 
board was  never  known  to  be  in  the  condition  of 
Old  Mother  Hubbard’s,  described  in  the  nursery 
rhyme.  The  Kleggs  might  not  have  much  tapes- 
try and  bric-a-biacin  their  home,  but  their  smoke- 
house was  always  full,  and  Mrs.  Klegg’s  kitchen 
could  have  fed  a camp-meeting  any  time  with- 
out warning.  So  it  was  that  when  Si  enlisted  his 
full,  rosy  face  and  his  roundness  of  limb  showed 
that  he  had  been  well  fed,  and  that  nature  had 


THE  AWFUL  HARDTACK. 


31 


made  good  use  of  the  ample  daily  supplies  that 
were  provided.  His  digestive  organs  were  kept 
in  perfect  condition  by  constant  exercise. 

After  Si  had  put  down  his  name  on  the  roll  of 
Co.  Q of  the  200th  Ind.  he  had  but  a few  days  to 
remain  at  home  before  his  regiment  was  to  start 
for  Louisville.  During  this  time  his  mother  and 
sisters  kept  him  filled  up  with  “goodies”  of  every 
sort.  It  fact,  it  was  the  biggest  thing  in  the  way 
of  a protracted  picnic  that  Si  had  ever  struck. 

“You  must  enjoy  these  things  while  you  can, 
Si,”  said  his  mother,  “for  goodness  knows  what 
you’ll  do  when  you  really  git  into  the  army.  I’ve 
heerd  ’em  tell  awful  things  about  how  the  poor 
sogers  don’t  have  half  enough  to  eat,  and  what 
they  do  git  goes  agin’  any  Christian  stomach. 
Here,  take  another  piece  of  this  pie.  A little 
while,  and  it’ll  be  a long  time,  I reckon,  till  ye 
git  any  more.” 

“Don’t  keer  if  I do!”  said  Si,  for  there  was 
scarcely  any  limit  to  his  capacity. 

And  so  during  those  days  and  nights  tne  old 
lady  and  the  girls  cooked  and  cooked,  and  Si  ? » 
and  ate,  until  it  seemed  as  if  he  wouldn’t  w 
any  more  till  the  war  was  over. 

Si  was  full,  and  as  soon  as  Co.  Q was  it 
ordered  to  camp,  and  Si  had  to  go.  Thev  i,  >, 
him  down  with  good  things  enough  to  last  h. 
a week.  The  pretty  Annabel— the  neighbor’s 
daughter  vho  had  solemnly  promised  Si  that  she 


32 


SI  KLEGG. 


wouldn’t  go  with  any  other  fellow  while  he  was 
away — came  around  to  see  Si  off  and  brought  him 
a rich  fruit  cake. 

“I  made  that  for  you/’  she  said. 

“Bully  for  you!”  said  Si,  for  he  felt  that  he 
must  begi^j  to  talk  like  a soldier. 

.....  i\_-  - / — 


The  first  day  or  two  after  reaching  Louisville 
. ; , , -.r.o [ n ’•ec-cived  rations  of  ’‘soft  bread.”  But 


THE  AWFUL  HARDTACK. 


S3 


that  didn’t  last  long.  It  was  only  a way  they 
had  of  letting  the  fresh  soldiers  down  easy. 
Orders  came  to  get  ready  to  pull  out  after  Bragg, 
and  then  Si’s  regiment  had  its  first  issue  of  army 
rations.  As  the  Orderly  pried  open  a box  of  hard- 
tack and  began  to  distribute  them  to  the  boys, 
Si  exclaimed: 

“Them’s  nice-looking  soda  crackers.  I don’t 
believe  the  grub  is  goin’  to  be  so  bad,  after  all.” 

Si  had  never  seen  a hardtack  before. 

“Better  taste  one  and  see  how  you  like  it!” 
said  one  of  Buell’s  ragged  Indiana  veterans,  who 
had  come  over  to  see  the  boys  of  the  200th  and 
hear  the  latest  news  from  “God’s  country.” 

It  happened  that  this  lot  was  one  of  extra 
quality  as  to  hardness.  The  baker’s  watch  had 
stopped,  or  he  had  gone  to  sleep,  and  they  had 
been  left  in  the  oven  or  dry-kiln  too  long.  Si  toolt 
one  of  them  and  carried  it  to  his  mouth.  He 
first  tried  on  it  the  bite  which  made  such  havoc 
with  a quarter  section  of  custard  pie,  but  his 
incisors  made  no  more  impression  upon  it  than 
if  it  had  been  a shingle. 

“You’ll  have  to  bear  on  hard,”  said  the  veteran, 
with  a grim  smile. 

“Je-ru-sa-lem!”  exclaimed  Si  after  he  had  made 
two  or  three  attempts  equally  barren  of  results. 

Then  he  tried  his  “back  teeth.”  His  molars 
were  in  prime  order,  and  his  jaw  power  was  suffi- 
cient to  crack  a hickory  nut  every  time.  Si 


34 


SI  KLEGCh 


crowded  one  corner  of  the  hardtack  as  far  as  he 
could  between  his  “grinders,”  where  he  could  get 
a good  “purchase”  on  it,  shut  his  eyes  and  turned 


on  a full  head  of  steam.  His  teeth  and  jaws 
fairly  creaked  under  the  strain,  but  he  couldn’t 
even  “phase”  it. 


*FHL  AWFUL  HARDTACK. 


85 


KIf  that  ain’t  old  pizen!”  said  Si.  “It  beats 
anything  I ever  seen  up  in  the  Wabash  country.” 


But  his  blood  was  up,  and  laying  the  cracker 
upon  a log,  he  brought  the  butt  of  his  gun  down 
upon  it  like  a pile-driver.  r 


HE  SMASHED  IT. 

f “I  thought  I’d  fix  ye,”  he  said,  as  he  picked  up 
the  fragments,  and  tried  his  teeth  upon  the  small- 
er ones.  “Have  I got  to  eat  such  stuff  as  that?” 
with  a despairing  look  at  his  veteran  friend.  “I’d 


SI  KLEGG. 


just  as  soon  be  a billy-goat  and  live  on  circus- 
posters,  fruit-cans  and  old  hoop-skirts. ” 

“You’ll  get  used  to  it  after  a while,  same’s  we 
did.  You’ll  see  the  time  when  you’ll  be  mighty 
glad  to  get  even  as  hard  a tack  as  that!” 

Si’s  heart  sank  almost  into  his  shoes  at  the 
prospect,  for  the  taste  of  his  mother’s  pie  and 
Annabel’s  fruit  cake  were  yet  fresh  in  his  mouth. 
But  Si  was  fully  bent  on  being  a loyal,  obedient 
soldier,  determined  to  make  the  best  of  everything 
without  any  more  “kicking”  than  was  the  inalien- 
able right  of  every  man  who  wore  a uniform. 

For  the  first  time  in  his  life  Si  went  to  bed 
hungry  that  night.  Impelled  by  the  gnawings 
of  his  appetite  he  made  repeated  assaults  upon 
the  hardtack,  but  the  result  was  wholly  insuffi- 
cient to  satisfy  the  longings  of  his  stomach. 
His  supper  wasn’t  anything  to  speak  of.  Before 
going  to  bed  he  began  to  exercise  his  ingenuity 
on  various  schemes  to  reduce  the  hardtack  to 
a condition  in  which  it  would  be  more  gratifying 
to  his  taste  and  better  suited  to  the  means  with 
which  nature  had  provided  him  for  disposing  of 
his  rations.  Naturally  Si  thought  that  soaking 
in  water  would  have  a beneficial  effect.  So  he 
laid  five  or  six  of  them  in  the  bottom  of  a camp- 
kettle,  anchored  them  down  with  a stone,  and 
covered  them  with  water.  He  thought  that  with 
the  aid  of  a frying-pan  he  would  get  up  a break- 
fast that  he  could  eat,  anyway. 


THE  AWFUL  HARDTACK. 


37 


Si  felt  a little  blue  as  he  lay  curled  up  under 
his  blanket  with  his  head  pillowed  on  his  knap- 
sack. He  thought  some  about  his  mother,  and 
sister  Maria,  and  pretty  Annabel,  but  he  thought 
a good  deal  more  about  the  beef  and  potatoes,  the 
pies  and  the  puddings,  that  were  so  plentifully 
spread  upon  the  table  at  home 

It  was  a long  time  before  he  got  to  sleep.  As 
he  lay  there,  thinking  and  thinking,  there  came 
to  his  mind  some  other  uses  to  which  it  seemed 
to  him  the  hardtack  might  be  put,  which  would 
be  much  more  consistent  with  its  nature  than 
to  palm  it  off  on  the  soldiers  as  alleged  food.  He 
thought  he  could  now  understand  why,  when  he 
enlisted,  they  examined  his  teeth  so  carefully, 
as  if  they  were  going  to  buy  him  for  a mule.  They 
said  it  was  necessary  to  have  good  teeth  in  order  to 
bite  “cartridges”  successfully,  but  now  he  knew 
it  was  with  reference  to  his  ability  to  eat  hardtack. 

Si  didn’t  want  to  be  killed  if  he  could  help  it. 
While  he  was  lying  there  he  determined  to  line 
one  of  his  shirts  with  hardtacks,  and  he  would 
put  that  on  whenever  there  was  going  to  be  a 
fight.  He  didn’t  believe  the  bullets  would  go 
through  them.  He  wanted  to  do  all  he  could 
toward  paralyzing  the  rebels,  and  with  such  a 
protection  he  could  be  very  brave,  while  his 
comrades  were  being  mowed  down  around  him. 
The  idea  of  having  such  a shirt  struck  Si  as  be- 
ing  a brilliant  one. 


38 


BI  KLGGG. 


Then,  he  thought  hardtack  would  he  excellent 
for  half-soling  his  shoes.  He  didn’t  think  they 
would  ever  wear  out. 

If  he  ran  short  of  ammunition  he  could  ram 
pieces  of  hardtack  into  his  gun  and  he  had  no 
doubt  they  would  do  terrible  execution  in  the 
ranks  of  the  enemy. 

All  these  things  and  many  more  Si  thought  of 
until  finally  he  was  lost  in  sleep.  Then  he 
dreamed  that  somebody  was  trying  to  cramstones 
down  his  throat. 

The  company  was  called  out  at  daylight,  and 
immediately  after  roll-call  Si  went  to  look  after 
the  hardtacks  he  had  put  to  soak  the  night  be- 
fore. He  thought  he  had  never  felt  so  hungry  in 
his  life.  He  fished  out  the  hartack  and  care- 
fully inspected  them,  to  note  the  result  of  the 
submerging  and  to  figure  out  the  chances  on  his 
much-needed  breakfast. 

To  any  old  soldier  itjwould  be  unnecessary 
to  describe  the  condition  in  which  Si  found  those 
hardtacks,  and  the  effect  of  the  soaking.  For 
the  information  of  any  who  never  soaked  a hard- 
tack it  may  be  said  that  Si  found  them  trans- 
formed, to  all  appearances,  into  sole-leather.  They 
were  flexible,  but  as  tough  as  the  hide  that  was 
“found  in  the  vat  when  the  tanner  v£ied.” 

Si  tried  to  bite  a piece  off  one  of  them  to  see 
what  it  was  like,  but  he  couldn’t  get  his  teeth 
through  it.  In  sheer  desperation  he  laid  it  on  a 


THE  AWFUL  HARDTACK. 


39 


log,  seized  a hatchet,  and  chopped  off  a corner. 
He  put  it  in  his  mouth  and  chewed  on  it  a while, 
but  found  it  as  tasteless  as  cold  codfish. 

Si  thought  he  would  try  the  frying-pan.  He 
chopped  the  hardtacks  into  bits,  put  in  equal 
parts  of  water  and  grease,  sifted  over  the  mixture 
a little  salt  and  pepper, and  then  gave  it  a 
thorough  frying.  Si’s  spirits  rose  during  the 
gradual  development  of  this  scheme,  as  it  seemed 
to  offer  a good  prospect  for  his  morning  meal. 
And  when  it  came  to  the  eating,  Si  found  it 
really  good,  comparatively  speaking,  even  though 
it  was  very  much  like  a dish  compounded  of  the 
sweepings  from  around  a shoemaker’s  bench. 
A good  appetite  was  indispensable  to  a real  en- 
joyment of  this — which  the  soldiers  called  by  a 
name  that  cannot  be  given  here — but  Si  had  the 
appetite,  and  he  ate  and  was  thankful. 

“I  thought  I*d  get  the  bulge  on  them  things 
some  way  or  other,”  said  Si,  as  he  drank  the  last 
of  his  coffee  and  arose  from  his  meal  feeling  like 
a giant  refreshed  with  new  wine. 

For  the  next  two  or  three  months  Si  largely  de- 
voted his  surplus  energies  to  further  experiment- 
ing with  the  hardtack.  He  applied  every  con- 
ceivable process  of  cookery  he  could  think  of 
that  was  possible  with  the  meager  outfit  at  his 
command  in  the  way  of  utensils  and  materials. 
Nearly  all  of  his  patient  and  persevering  efforts 
resulted  only  in  vexa^on  of  spirit* 


40 


SI  KLEGG. 


He  continued  to  eat  hardtack  from  day  to  day, 
in  these  various  forms,  but  it  was  only  because 
he  had  to  do  it.  He  didn’t  hanker  after  it,  but 
it  was  a military  necessity — hardtack  or  starva- 
tion. It  was  a hard  choice,  but  Si’s  love  of  life — 
and  Annabel — induced  him  to  choose  the  hardtack. 

But  for  a long  time  Si’s  stomach  was  in  a state 
of  chronic  rebellion,  and  on  the  whole  he  had  a 
hard  time  of  it  getting  used  to  this  staple  article 
of  army  diet.  He  did  not  become  reconciled  to  it 
until  after  his  regiment  had  rations  of  flour  for  a 
week,  when  the  “cracker-line”  had  been  cut  by 
the  guerrillas  and  the  supply  of  that  substantial 
edible  was  exhausted.  Si’s  experience  with  the 
flour  swept  away  all  his  objections  to  the  hard- 
tack. Those  slapjacks,  so  fearfully  and  wonder- 
fully made,  and  those  lumps  of  dough,  mixed  with 
cold  water  and  dried  on  flat  stones  before  the 
fire,  as  hard  as  cannon  balls,  played  sad  havoc 
with  his  internal  arrangements.  For  the  first 
time  he  was  obliged  to  fall  into  the  cadaverous 
squad  at  sick-call  and  wabble  up  to  the  doctor’s 
shop,  where  he  was  dosed  with  castor-oil  and 
blue-mass.  Si  was  glad  enough  to  see  hardtack 
again.  Most  of  the  grumbling  he  did  thereafter 
concerning  the  hardtack  was  because  he  often 
couldn’t  get  enough. 

About  six  months  taught  Si  what  all  the  sol- 
diers learned  by  experience,  that  the  best  way 

to  eat  the  average  hardtack  was  to  take  it 


THE  AWFUL  HARDTACK.  41 

“straight” — just  as  it  came  out  of  the  Box,  with- 
out any  soaking  or  frying  or  stewing.  At  meal- 
time he  would  make  a quart  or  so  of  coffee,  stab 
the  end  of  a ramrod  through  three  or  four  slices 


THE  BEST  WAY,  AFTEK  ALL. 


of  sowbelly,  and  cook  them  over  the  coals,  allow- 
ing some  of  the  drippings  to  fall  upon  the  hard- 
tack for  lubricating  purposes,  and  these  con- 
stituted his  frugal  repast. 


4i 


SI  KLEGG. 


CHAPTER  V. 

FAT  PORK— INDISPENSABLE  BODY  TIMBER  FOR 
PATRIOTISM. 

It  was  told  in  the  last  chapter  how  the  patriotic 
impulses  of  Si  Klegg,  of  the  200th  Ind.,  reached 
his  stomach  and  digestive  apparatus,  and 
brought  them  under  obedient  subjection  to  hard- 
tack. He  didn’t  have  quite  so  rough  an  experi- 
ence with  that  other  staple  of  army  diet,  which 
was  in  fact  the  very  counterpart  of  the  hardtack, 
and  which  took  its  most  popular  name  from  that 
part  of  the  body  of  the  female  swine  which  is 
usually  nearest  the  ground.  Much  of  Si’s  muscle 
and  brawn  was  due  to  the  fact  that  meat  was  al- 
ways plenty  on  his  father’s  farm.  When  Si  en- 
listed he  was  not  entirely  free  from  anxiety  on 
the  question  of  meat,  for  to  his  appetite  it  was 
not  even  second  in  importance  to  bread.  If  bread 
was  the  “staff  of  life,”  meat  was  life  itself  to  Si. 
It  didn’t  make  much  difference  to  him  what  kind 
it  was,  only  so  it  was  meat.  He  didn’t  suppose 
Uncle  Sam  would  keep  him  supplied  with  quail 
on  toast  and  porterhouse  steaks  all  the  time,  but 
he  did  hope  he  would  give  him  as  much  as  he 
wanted  of  something  in  that  line. 

“You  won’t  get  much  but  pork,  unless  you’re  a 


FAT  pore:. 


43 


good  forager,”  said  one  of  Si’s  friends  he  met  at 
Louisville,  and  who  had  been  a year  in  the  serv- 
ice. 

Si  thought  he  might,  with  practice  and  a little 
encouragement,  be  fairly  successful  in  foraging 


THE  VETERAN  TALKS  TO  SL 


on  his  own  hook,  but  at  the  same  time  he  said 
he  wouldn’t  grumble  if  he  conld  only  get  plenty 


44 


SI  JC'LEOG. , 


of  pork.  Fortunately  for  him  he  had  not  been 
imbued  with  the  teachings  of  the  Hebraic  dispen- 
sation which  declared  “unclean’’  the  beast  that 
furnished  the  great  bulk  Qf  the  animal  food  for 
the  American  defenders  of  the  Union 

Co.  Q of  the  200th  Ind.  received  with  the  first 
issue  of  army  rations  at  Louisville  a bountiful 
supply  of  bacon  of  prime  quality,  and  Si  was 
happy  at  the  prospect  Be  thought  it  would  al- 
ways be  that  way. 

“1  don’t  see  anything  the  matter  with  such  grub 
as  that!”  said  Si.  “Looks  to  me  as  though  we 
were  goin’  to  live  like  fighting-cocks.” 

“You’re  just  a little  bit  brash,”  said  his  veteran 
friend,  who  had  just  been  through  the  long,  hun- 
gry march  from  Huntsville,  Ala.,  to  Louisville. 
“Better  eat  all  you  can  lay  yer  hands  on  now, 
while  ye’ve  got  a chance.  One  o’  these  days 
ye’ll  git  into  a tight  place  and  ye  won’t  see  enough 
hog’s  meat  in  a week  to  grease  a griddle.  I’ve 
bin  there,  myself!  Jest  look  at  me  and  see  what 
short  rations  ’ll  bring  you  to?” 

But  Si  thought  he  wouldn’t  try  to  cross  a bridge 
till  he  got  to  it,  nor  lie  awake  nights  worrying 
over  troubles  that  were  yet  in  the  future.  Si  had 
a philosophical  streak  in  his  mental  make-up 
and  this,  by  the  way,  was  a good  thing  for  a 
soldier  to  have.  “Sufficient  unto  the  day  is  the 
evil  thereof,”  was  an  excellent  rule  for  him  to  go 


FA.T  PORK. 


45 


S‘»  Si  assimilated  all  the  pork  that  fell  to  his 
share,  with  an  extra  bit  now  and  then*  from  a 
comrade  whose  appetite  was  less  vigorous.  Lie 


DRAWING  RATIONS 


thrived  under  its  fructifying  influence,  and  gave 
good  promise  of  military  activity  and  usefulness. 
No  scientific  processes  of  cookery  were  neces- 
sary to  prepare  it  for  immediate  use.  A simple 


46 


SI  KLEGG. 


boiling  or  frying  or  toasting  was  all  that  was  re- 
quired. 

During  the  few  days  at  Louisville  fresh  beef  was 
issued  occasionally.  It  is  true  that  the  animals 
slain  for  the  soldiers  were  not  always  fat  and 
tender,  nor  did  each  of  them  have  four  hind- 
quarters. This  last  fact  was  the  direct  cause  of 
a good  deal  of  inflammation  in  the  200th  Ind.,  as 
in  every  other  regiment.  The  boys  who  got  sec- 
tions of  the  forward  part  of  the  “critter,”  usually 
about  three-quarters  bone,  invariably  kicked, 
t and  fired  peppery  remarks  at  those  who  got  the 
juicy  steaks  from  the  rear  portion  of  the  animal. 
Then  when  their  turn  came  for  a piece  of  hind- 
quarter  the  other  fellows  would  growl.  Four- 
fifths  of  the  boys  generally  had  to  content  them- 
selves with  a skinny  rib  or  a soup-shank.  Si 
shared  the  common  lot,  and  did  his  full  quota  of 
grumbling  because  his  “turn”  for  a slice  of  steak 
didn’t  come  every  time  beef  was  issued. 

The  pickled  pork  was  comparatively  free  from 
this  cause  of  irritation.  It  was  all  alike,  and  was 
simply  “Hobson’s  choice.”  Si  remembered  the 
fragrant  and  delicious  fried  ham  that  so  often 
garnished  his  mothers  breakfast  table  and  won- 
dered why  there  was  not  the  same  proportion  of 
hams  and  sides  in  the  Commissary  that  he  re- 
membered in  the  meat-house  on  the  Wabash. 
He  remarked  to  Shorty  one  day: 

“I  wonder  where  all  this  pork  comes  from?” 


PAT  PORK. 


47 


“It  comes  from  Illinoy,  I spose,”  said  Shorty. 
“I  notice  the  barrels  are  all  marked  ‘Chicago’.” 
“Must  grow  funny  kind  o’  hogs  out  there— mile 
long  each,  I should  say.” 

“What  do  you  mean?” 

“Why,  we’ve  drawn  a full  mile  o’  sides  from  the 
Commissary,  and  haint  struck  a ham  yit.  Pm 
wonderin’  jest  how  long  that  hog  is!” 

“Well,  you  are  green.  You  oughter  know  by 
this  time  that  there  are  only  enough  hams  for  the 
officers.” 

Now  and  then  a few  pigs’  shoulders  were 
handed  around  among  the  boys,  but  the  large 
proportion  of  bone  they  contained  was  exasper- 
ating, and  was  the  cause  of  much  profanity. 

Sometimes  bacon  was  issued  that  had  really 
outlived  its  usefulness,  except,  perhaps,  for  the 
manufacture  of  soap.  Improperly  “cured,”  it  was 
strong  and  rancid,  or,  occasionally,  so  near  a 
condition  of  putrefaction  that  the  stench  from 
it  offended  the  nostrils  of  the  whole  camp.  Some 
times  it  was  full  of  “skippers  ” that  tunneled 
their  way  through  and  through  it,  and  grew  fat 
with  riotous  living. 

t Si  drew  the  line  at  this  point.  He  had  an  iron- 
plated  stomach,  but  putrid  and  maggoty  meat 
was  too  much  for  it.  Whenever  he  got  any  of 
this  he  would  trade  it  off  to  the  darkies  for 
chickens.  There  is^nothing  like  por k for  a South- 


\ 


48 


SI  KLEGG. 


era  negro.  He  wants  something  that  will  “stick 
to  his  ribs.” 

By  a gradual  process  of  development  his  ap- 
petite reached  the  point  when  he  could  eat  his 


fat  pork  perfectly  raw.  During  a brief  halt  when 
on  the  march  he  would  squat  in  a fence  comer, 
go  down  into  his  have^ack  for  supplies,  cut  a 


FAT  PORK.  49 

slice  of  Bacon,  lay  it  on  a hardtack,  and  munch 
them  with  a keen  relish. 

At  one  of  the  meetings  of  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland Gen.  Garfield  told  a story  which  may 
appropriately  close  this  chapter. 

One  day,  while  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland 
was  beleaguered  in  Chattanooga  and  the  men  were 
almost  starving  on  quarter  rations,  Gen.  Rose- 
crans  and  his  staff  rode  out  to  inspect  the  lines. 
As  the  brilliant  cavalcade  dashed  by  a lank, 
grizzled  soldier  growled  to  a comrade: 

“It’d  be  a darned  sight  better  for  this  army  if 
we  had  a little  more  sowbelly  and  not  quite  so 
many  brass  buttons !” 


50 


SI  KLEGG. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

DETAILED  AS  CO  ^ — SI  FINDS  RICE  ANOTHER  INNO- 
CENT WITH  A GR*.  T DEAL  OF  CUSSEDNESS  IN  IT. 

It  would  have  been  very  strange,  indeed,  if  Si 
Klegg  had  not  grumbled  loudly  and  frequently 
about  the  food  that  was  dished  up  to  him  by  the 
company  cooks.  In  the  first  place,  it  was  as 
natural  for  a boy  to  grumble  pt  the  “grub”  as  it 
was  for  him  to  try  to  shirk  battalion  drill  or  “run 
the  guard.”  In  the  next  place,  the  cooking  done 
by  the  company  bean-boiler  deserved  all  the  abuse 
it  received,  for  as  a rule  the  boys  who  sought 
places  in  the  hash  foundry  did  so  because  they 
were  too  lazy  to  drill  or  do  guard  duty,  and  their 
.knowledge  of  cooking  was  about  like  that  of  the 
Irishman’s  of  music: 

“Can  you  play  the  fiddle,  Pat?”  he  was  asked. 

“Oi  don’t  know,  sor-r-r — Oi  niver  tried.” 

Si’s  mother,  like  most  of  the  well-to-do  farmers’ 
wives  in  Indiana,  was  undoubtedly  a good  cook, 
and  she  trained  up  her  daughters  to  do  honor  to 
her  teachings,  so  that  Si  undoubtedly  knew  what 
properly-prepared  food  was.  From  the  time  he 
was  big  enough  to  spank  he  had  fared  sumptu- 
ously every  day.  In  the  gush  of  patriotic  emo- 
tions that  prompted  him  to  enlist  he  scarcely 


DETAILED  AS  COOK. 


61 


thought  or  this  feature  of  the  case.  If  it  entered 
his  mind  at  all,  he  felt  that  he  could  safely  trust 
all  to  the  goodness  of  so  beneficent  a Goyern- 


SI  FALLS  OUT  WITH  HIS  FOOD. 

ment  as  that  for  the  preservation  of  which  he 
had  offered  himself  as  a target  for  the  rebels  to 


52 


ST  K LEGG. 


shoot  at.  Tie  thought  it  no  more  than  fair  to  the 
brave  soldiers  that  Uncle  Sam  should  furnish 
professional  cooks  for  each  company,  who  would 
serve  everything  up  in  the  style  of  a first-class 
city  restaurant.  So,  after  Si  got  down  among  the 
boys  and  found  how  it  really  was,  it  was  not 
long  till  his  insides  was  a volcano  of  rebellion 
that  threatened  serious  results. 

When,  therefore,  Si  lifted  up  his  voice  and 
cried  aloud,  and  spared  not — when  he  said  that 
he  could  get  as  good  coffee  as  that  furnished  him 
by  dipping  his  cup  into  a tan-vat;  when  he  said 
that  the  meat  was  not  good  soap-grease,  and  that 
the  potatoes  and  beans  had  not  so  much  taste 
and  nutrition  in  them  as  so  much  pine-shavings, 
he  was  probably  nearer  right  than  grumblers 
usually  are. 

“Give  it  to  ’em,  Si,”  his  comrades  would  say, 
when  he  tuned  up  his  loud  bazoo  on  the  rations 
question.  “They  ought  to  get  it  ten  times  worse. 
When  we  come  out  we  expected  that  seme  of  us 
would  get  shot  by  the  rebels,  but  we  didn’t  cal- 
culate that  we  were  going  to  be  poisoned  in 
camp  by  a lot  of  dirty,  lazy  potwrastlers.” 

One  morning  after  roll-call  the  Orderly-Sergeant 
came  up  to  Si  and  said; 

“There’s  been  so  much  chin-music  about  this 
cooking-business  that  the  Captain’s  ordered  the 
cooks  to  go  back  to  duty,  and  after  this  every- 
body’ll have  to  take  his  regular  turn  at  cooking* 


DETAILED  AS  <DOK 


53 


It’ll  be  your  turn  to-day,  and  you’ll  stay  in  camp 
and  get  dinner.” 

When  Co.  Q marched  out  for  the  forenoon  drill, 
Si  pulled  off  his  blouse  and  sat  down  on  a con<- 


venient  log  to  think  out  how  he  should  go  to 
work.  Up  to  this  time  he  had  been  quite  cer- 
tain that  he  knew  all  about  cooking  that  it  was 


54 


SI  KLEGGi 


worth  while  to  know.  Just  now  none  of  his  knowl- 
edge seemed  to  be  in  usable  shape,  and  the 
more  he  thought  about  it  the  less  able  he  seemed 
to  be  to  decide  upon  any  way  of  beginning.  It 
had  always  appeared  very  easy  for  his  mother 
and  sisters  to  get  dinner,  and  on  more  than  one 
occasion  he  had  reminded  them  how  much  bet- 
ter times  they  had.  staying  in  the  house  cooking 
dinner  than  he  had  out  in  the  harvest  field 
keeping  up  with  the  reaper.  At  this  moment  he 
would  rather  have  kept  up  with  the  fastest  reaper 
in  Posey  County,  on  the  hottest  of  July  days, 
than  to  have  cooked  the  coarse  dinner  which 
his  75  comrades  expected  to  be  ready  for  them 
when  they  returned,  tired,  hot  and  hungry,  from 
the  morning  drill. 

He  went  back  to  the  barracks  and  inspected 
the  company  larder.  He  found  there  the  same 
old,  coarse,  greasy,  strong,  fat  pork,  a bushel  or 
so  of  beans,  a few  withered  potatoes,  sugar, 
coffee,  bread,  and  a box  of  rice  which  had  been 
collected  from  the  daily  rations  because  none  of 
the  cooks  knew  how  to  manage  it.  The  sight  of 
the  South  Carolina  staple  recalled  the  delightful 
rice  puddings  his  mother  used  to  make.  His 
heart  grew  buoyant. 

“Here’s  just  the  thing,”  he  said.  “I  always 
was  fond  of  rice,  and  I know  the  boys  will  be  de- 
lighted with  it  for  a change.  I know  I can  cook 
it;  lor  all  that  you’ve  got  to  do  is  to  put  it  in  a 


DETAILED  AS  COOL 


65 


pot  with  water  and  boil  it  till  it  is  done.  I’ve 
seen  mother  do  that  lots  o’  times. 

“Let’s  see,”  he  said,  pursuing  his  ruminations. 


THE  TROUBLE  BEGINS. 

“I  think  each  boy  can  eat  about  a cupful,  so  Pll 
put  one  for  each  of  ’em  in  the  kittle.” 

“There’s  one  for  Abner,”  he  continued,  pouring 
a cupful  in  for  the  first  name  on  the  company- 


56 


SI  KLEGGk 


roll;  “one  for  Acklin,  one  for  Adams, one  for  Bar- 
ber, one  for  Brooks,”  and  so  on  down  through 
the  whole  well-known  list. 

“It  fills  the  old  kittle  tol’bly  full,”  he  remarked, 
as  he  scanned  the  utensil  after  depositing  the 
contribution  for  Williams,  the  last  name  on  the 
roll;  “but  I guess  she’ll  stand  it.  I’ve  heard 
mother  tell  the  girls  that  they  must  always  keep 
the  rice  covered  with  water,  and  stir  it  well,  so 
that  it  wouldn’t  burn;  so  here  goes.  Won’t  the 
boys  be  astonished  when  they  have  a nice  mess 
of  rice,  as  a change  from  that  rusty  old  side-meat!” 
He  hung  the  kettle  on  the  fire  and  stepped  out 
to  the  edge  of  the  parade-ground  to  watch  the 
boys  drilling.  It  was  the  first  time  he  had  had 
the  sensation  of  pleasure  of  seeing  them  at  this 
without  taking  part  in  it  himself,  and  he  began 
to  think  that  fye  would  not  mind  if  he  had  to 
cook  most  of  the  time.  He  suddenly  remem- 
bered about  his  rice  and  hurried  back  to  find  it 
boiling,  bulging  over  the  top  like  a small  snow- 
drift.  ^ 

“I  was  afraid  that  kittle  was  a little  too  full, 
he  said  to  himself,  hurrying  off  for  another  camp- 
kettle,  in  which  he  put  about  a third  of  the  con- 
tents of  the  first.  “Now  they’re  all  right.  And 
it’ll  cook  better  and  quicker  in  two  than  one* 
Great  Scott!  what’s  the  matter?  They’re  both 
boiling  over.  There  must  be  something  wrong 
with  that  rice.’*  ^ • 


DETAILED  AS  COOK. 


57 


, Pretty  soon  he  had  all  the  company  kettles 
employed,  and  then  all  that  he  could  borrow 
from  the  other  companies.  But  dip  out  as  much 


58  SI  KLEGG. 

as  he  would  there  seemed  no  abatement  in  the 
upheaving  of  the  snowy  cereal,  and  the  kettles 
continued  to  foam  over  like  so  many  huge  glasses 
of  soda  water.  He  rushed  to  his  bunk  and  got 
his  gum  blanket  and  heaped  upon  it  a pile  as 
big  as  a small  haycock,  but  the  mass  in  the 
kettle  seemed  larger  than  it  was  before  this  was 
subtracted. 

He  sweat  and  dipped,  and  dipped  and  sweat; 
burned  his  hands  into  blisters  with  the  hot  rice 
and  hotter  kettles,  kicked  over  one  of  the  largest 
kettles  in  one  of  his  spasmodic  rushes  to  save  a 
portion  of  the  food  that  was  boiling  over,  and 
sent  its  white  contents  streaming  over  the  ground. 
His  misery  came  to  a climax  as  he  heard  the 
quick  step  of  his  hungry  comrades  returning 
form  drill. 

“Right  face;  Arms  a-port;  Break  ranks — 
March !”  commanded  the  Orderly-Sergeant,  and 
there  was  a clatter  of  tin  cups  and  plates  as  they 
came  rushing  toward  him  to  get  their  dinner — 
something  to  stay  their  ravenous  stomachs. 
There  was  a clamor  of  rage,  ridicule,  wrath  and 
disappointment  as  they  took  in  the  scene. 

“What’s  the  matter  here?”  demanded  the  Cap- 
tain, striding  back  to  the  company  fire.  “You 
young  rascal,  is  this  the  way  you  get  dinner  for 
your  comrades?  Is  this  the  way  you  attend  to 
the  duty  for  which  you’re  detailed?  Waste  ra- 
tions in  some  fool  experiment  and  scatter  good 


DETAILED  AS  COOK. 


59 


food  all  over  the  ground?  Biler,  put  on  your  arms 
and  take  Klegg  to  the  guard-house.  I’ll  make 
you  pay  for  this  nonsense,  sir,  in  a way  that  you 
won’t  forget  in  a hurry,  I’ll  be  bound.” 

So  poor  Si  was  marched  to  the  guard-house, 
where  he  had  to  stay  for  24  hours,  as  a punish- 
ment for  not  knowing,  until  he  found  out  by  this 
experience,  that  rice  would  “swell.”  The  Captain 
wouldn’t  let  him  have  anything  to  eat  except 
that  scorched  and  half-cooked  stuff  out  of  the 
kettles,  and  Si  thought  he  never  wanted  to  see 
any  more  rice  as  long  as  he  lived. 

In  the  evening  one  of  the  boys  took  Si’s  blanket 
to  him,  thinking  he  would  want  it  to  sleep  in. 

“I  tell  ye,  pard,  this  is  purty  derned  tough!” 
said  Si  as  he  wiped  a tear  out  of  the  southwest 
corner  of  his  left  eye  with  the  sleeve  of  his 
blouse.  “I  think  the  Cap’n’s  hard  on  a feller 
who  didn’t  mean  to  do  nothin’  wrong!”  And  Si 
looked  as  if  he  had  lost  all  his  interest  in  the 
old  flag,  and  didn’t  care  a pinch  of  his  burnt  rice 
what  became  of  the  Union. 

His  comrade  “allowed”  that  it  was  hard,  but 
supposed  they  had  got  to  get  used  to  such 
things.  He  said  he  heard  the  Captain  say  he 
would  let  Si  out  the  next  day. 


IN  THE  AWKWARD  SQUAD. 


61 


CHAPTER  VII. 

IN  THE  AWKWARD  SQUAD— SI  HAS  MANY  TRIBULA- 
TIONS LEARNING  THE  MANUAL  OF  ARMS. 

When  Si  Klegg  went  into  active  service  with 
Co.  Q of  the  200th  Ind.  his  ideas  of  drill  and  tac- 
tics were  exceedingly  vague.  He  knew  that  a 
“drill”  was  something  to  make  holes  with,  and 
as  he  understood  that  he  had  been  sent  down 
South  to  make  holes  through  people,  he  sup- 
posed drilling  had  something  to  do  with  it.  He 
handled  his  musket  very  much  as  he  would  a 
hoe.  A “platoon”  might  be  something  to  eat,  for 
all  he  knew.  He  had  a notion  that  a “wheel” 
was  something  that  went  around,  and  he  thought 
a “file”  was  a screeching  thing  that  his  father 
used  once  a year  to  sharpen  up  the  old  buck  saw. 

The  fact  was  that  Si  and  his  companions 
hardly  had  a fair  shake  in  this  respect,  and  en- 
tered the  field  at  a decided  disadvantage.  It  had 
been  customary  for  a regiment  to  be  constantly 
drilled  for  a month  or  two  in  camp  in  its  own 
State  before  being  sent  to  the  front;  but  the 
200th  was  rushed  off  to  Kentucky  the  very  day  it 
was  mustered  in.  This  was  while  the  cold  chills 
were  running  up  and  down  the  backs  of  the 
geogle  in  the  North  on  account  of  the  threatened 


62 


KLEGG. 


invasion  by  Bragg’s  army.  The  regiment  pushed 
after  the  fleeing  rebels,  but  whenever  Buell’s 
army  halted  to  take  breath,  “Fall  in  for  drill!” 
was  shouted  through  its  camp  three  or  four  times 
a day.  It  was  liable  to  be  called  into  action  at 
any  moment,  and  it  was  deemed  indispensable 
to  begin  at  once  the  process  of  making  soldiers 
out  of  those  tender-footed  Hoosiers,  whose  zeal 
and  patriotism  as  yet  so  far  exceeded  their  knowl- 
edge of  military  things.  Most  of  the  officers  of 
the  200th  were  as  green  as  the  men,  though  some 
of  them  had  seen  service  in  other  regiments;  so, 
at  first,  officers  and  non-commissioned  officers 
who  had  been  in  the  field  a few  months  and  were 
considered  veterans,  and  who  knew,  Vor  thought 
they  knew,  all  about  tactics  that  was  worth 
knowing,  were  detailed  from  the  old  raiments  to 
put  the  boys  through  a course  of  sprouts  in  com- 
pany and  squad  drill. 

One  morning  three  or  four  days  after  leaving 
Louisville,  word  was  passed  around  that  the  regi- 
ment would  not  move  that  day,  and  the  boys 
were  so  glad  at  the  prospect  of  a day  of  rest  that 
they  wanted  to  get  right  up  and  yell.  Si  was  sit- 
ting on  a log,  with  his  shoes  off,  rubbing  his 
aching  limbs  and  nursing  his  blisters,  when 
the  Orderly  came  along. 

“Co.  Q,  be  ready  in  10  minutes  to  fall  in  for  drill. 
Stir  around,  you  men,  and  get  your  traps  on. 


m THE  1WIW1K)  SQUAD.  08 

Klegg,  put  on  them  gunboats,  and  be  lively  about 
it.” 

“Orderly,”  said  Si,  looking  as  if  he  hadn’t  a 
friend  on  earth,  “just  look  at  them  blisters;  I 
can’t  drill  to-day!”  — 

“You’ll  have  to  or  go  to  the  guard-house,”  was 
the  reply.  “You’d  better  hustle  yourself,  too!” 

Si  couldn’t  think  of  anything  to  say  that  would 
do  justice  to  his  feelings;  and  so,  with  wailing 
and  gnashing  of  teeth,  and  a few  muttered  words 
that  he  didn’t  learn  in  Sunday  school,  he  got 
ready  to  take  his  place  in  the  company. 

As  a general  combustion  of  powder  by  the 
armies  of  Buell  and  Bragg  was  hourly  expected, 
it  was  thought  best  for  the  200th  to  learn  first 
something  about  shooting.  If  called  suddenly 
into  action  it  was  believed  the  boys  could  “git 
thar,”  though  they  had  not  yet  mastered  the 
science  of  company  and  battalion  evolutions. 

Co.  Q was  divided  into  squads  of  eight  for  exer- 
cise in  the  manual  of  arms.  The  man  who  took 
Si’s  squad  was  a grizzled  Sergeant,  who  had  been 
“lugging  knapsack,  box  and  gun”  for  a year. 
He  fully  realized  his  important  and  responsible 
functions  as  instructor  of  these  innocent  youths, 
having  at  the  same  time  a supreme  contempt  for 
their  ignorance. 

“Attention,  Squad!”  and  they  all  looked  at 
him  in  a way  that  meanS  business. 

“Load  in  nine  times— Load!” 


64 


SI  KLEGG. 


Si  couldn’t  quite  understand  what  the  “in” 
meant,  but  he  had  always  been  handy  with  a 
shotgun,  to  the  terror  of  the  squirrels  and  coons 


IN  THE  AWKWARD  SQUAD.  65 

up  in  Posey  County,  and  he  thought  he  would 
show  the  Sergeant  how  spry  he  was.  So  he 
rammed  in  a cartridge,  put  on  a cap,  held  up  his 
musket,  and  blazed  away,  and  then  went  to 
loading  again  as  if  his  life  depended  upon  his 
activity.  For  an  instant  the  Sergeant  was  speech- 
less with  amazement.  At  length  his  tongue  was 
loosened,  and  he  roared  out: 

“What  in  the  name  of  General  Jackson  are  you 
doing,  you  measly  idiot!  Who  ordered  you  to 
load  and  fire  your  piece?” 

“I — I th— thought  you  did!”  said  Si,  trembling 
as  if  he  had  the  Wabash  ague.  “You  said  for 
us  to  load  nine  times.  I thought  nine  loads 
would  fill  ’er  chuck  full  and  bust  ’er,  and  I didn’t 
see  any  way  but  to  shute  ’em  off  as  fast  as  I got 
’em  in.” 

“No,  sir!  I gave  the  command  according  to 
Hardee,  ‘Load— in— nine— times!’  and  ef  yer 
hadn’t  bin  in  sich  a hurry  you’d  ’a’  found  out 
what  that  means.  Yer’ll  git  along  a good  deal 
faster  ef  you’ll  go  slower.  Yer  ought  ter  be  made 
ter  carry  a rail,  and  a big  one,  for  two  hours.” 

| Si  protested  that  he  was  sorry,  and  didn’t 
mean  to,  and  wouldn’t  do  so  again,  and  the  drill 
went  on.  The  master  went  through  all  the  nina 
“times”  of  “Handle— Cartridge!”  “Draw— Ham- 
mer!” etc.,  each  with  its  two  or  three  “motions.** 
It  seemed  like  nonsense  to  Si. 

“Boss,”  said  he,  “I  kin  get  ’er  loaded  in  just 
2K 


66  SI  KLEGG. 

half  the  time  ef  yer’ll  let  me  do  it  my  "own 

way!” 

“Silence!”  thundered  the  Sergeant.  “If  you 
speak  another  word  I’ll  have  ye  gagged  ’n’  tied 
up  by  the  thumbs!” 


“ORDBTO— ARMS  t" 

Si  had  always  been  used  to  speaking  right  oui 
when  he  tend  anything  to  say,  and  had  not  yet 
got  his  “unruly  member”  under  thorough  subjec- 
tion. He  saw  that  it  wouldn’t  do  to  fool  with  the 
Drill  Sergeant,  however,  and  he  held  his  peace. 


IN  THE  AWKWARD  SQUAD. 


67 


But  Si  kept  thinking  that  if  he  got  into  a fight  he 
would  ram  in  the  cartridges  and  fire  them  out  as 
fast  as  he  could,  without  bothering  his  head 
about  the  “one  time  and  three  motions.” 


“Order — Arms!”  commanded  the  Sergeant,  alter 
he  had  explained  how  it  was  to  be  done.  Si 
brought  his  gun  down  along  with  the  rest  like  a 


61  KLEGG. 


*8 

pile-driver.  The  scene  that  immediately  followed 
will  be  best  shown  by  our  artist. 

“Ou-ou-ouch!”  remarked  the  victim  of  Si’s  in- 
experience. 

“Didn’t  do  it  a-purpose,  pard,”  said  Si  com- 
passionately; “’pon  my  word  I didn’t.  I’ll  be 
more  keerful  after  this.” 

His  suffering  comrade,  in  very  pointed  lan- 
guage, urged  upon  Si  the  propriety  of  exercising 
a little  more  care.  He  determined  that  he  would 
manage  to  get  some  other  fellow  to  stand  next  to 
Si  after  that. 

“Shoulder — Arms!”  ordered  the  Sergeant,  and 
the  guns  came  straggling  up  into  position. 
Then,  after  a few  words  of  instruction,  “Right 
shoulder  shift  — Arms!”  The  result  is  illustrated 
by  the  cut. 

“Don’t  you  know  your  right  shoulder?”  said  the 
Sergeant,  with  a good  deal  of  vinegar  in  his  tone, 
to  Si,  who  had  his  gun  on  the  “larboard”  side,  as 
a sailor  would  say. 

“Beg  yer  pard’n,”  said  Si;  “I  always  was  left- 
handed.  I’ll  learn  if  yer  only  gimme  a show!” 

“Silence!”  again  roared  the  Sergp^nt.  “One 
more  <*ord,  sir,  and  I will  tie  ye  up,  fer  a fact!” 

The  Sergeant  got  his  squad  down  to  an  “order 
arrns^  again,  and  then,  after  showing  them  how, 
he  gave  the  order,  “Fix — Bayonets!” 

There  was  the  usual  clicking  and  clattering, 
during  which  Si  dexterously  managed  to  stick 


£N  THE  AWKWARD  SQUAD. 


69 


“his  Bayonet  into  the  eye  of  his  comrade,  whose 
toes  were  still  aching  from  the  blow  of  the  butt  of 
Si’s  musket.  Si  assured  him  he  was  sorry,  and 
that  it  was  all  a mistake,  but  his  comrade  though 
the  limit  of  patience  had  been  passed.  So  he  con- 


fidentially informed  Si  that  as  soon  as  dmi  was 
over  he  was  going  to  “pound  the  stuff  in  out 

of  him,  and  there  wouldn’t  be  any  mistake  about 
it,  either* 


70 


SI  KLEGG. 


| When  the  hour  was  up  the  Captain  of  the  com- 
pany came  around  to  see  how  the  boys  were  get- 
ting along.  The  upshot  of  it  was  that  poor  Si 
was  immediately  organized  into  an  “awkward 
squad”  all  by  himself,  and  drilled  an  extra  hour. 
( “We’ll  see,  Mr.  Klegg,”  said  the  Captain,  “if  you 
can’t  learn  to  handle  your  arms  without  mash- 
ing the  toes  and  stabbing  the  eyes  out  of  the  rest 
of  the  company.” 


ON  COMPANY  DRILL. 


71 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

ON  COMPANY  DRILL— SI  GETS  TANGLED  IN  THE 
MAZES  OF  THE  EVOLUTIONS. 

“Fall  in  for  company  drill !” 

£ These  words  struck  the  unwilling  ears  of  Co. 
Q,  200th  Ind.,  the  next  time  Buell  halted  his 
army  to  draw  a long  breath. 

“Wish  somebody  would  shoot  that  durned 
Orderly/’  muttered  Si  Klegg.  “For  two  cents  Pd 
do  it  myself.” 

“Don’t  do  it,  Si,”  admonished  Shorty.  “They’d 
git  another  one  that’d  be  just  as  bad.  All  Order- 
lies are  cusses.” 

Si  believed  it  would  be  a case  of  justifiable 
homicide,  and,  if  the  truth  must  be  told,  this  feel- 
ing was  largely  shared  by  the  other  members  of 
the  company.  For  more  than  a week  the  boys 
had  been  tramping  over  a “macadamized”  Ken- 
tucky pike.  Feet  were  plentifully  decorated  with 
blisters,  legs  wTere  stiff  and  sore,  and  joints  almost 
refused  to  perform  their  functions. 

It  had  rained  nearly  all  the  previous  day,  and 
the  disgusted  Hoosiers  of  the  200th  went  slosh- 
ing along,  wet  to  the  skin,  for  20  dreary  miles. 
With  that  diabolical  care  and  method  that  were 
generally  practiced  at  such  times,  the  Generals 


72 


SI  KLEGG. 


selected  the  worst  possible  locations  for  the  camps. 
The  200th  was  turned  into  a cornfield,  where  the 
men  sank  oyer  their  shoetops  in  mud,  and  were 


DON’T  CARE  A CONTINENTAL. 

ordered  to  bivouac  for  the  night.  The  wagons 
didn’t  get  up  at  all.  How  they  passed  the  slowly- 
dragging  hours  of  that  dismal  night  will  not  be 


ON  COMPANY  DRILL. 


73 


told  at  this  time.  Indeed,  bare  mention  is  enough 
to  recall  the  scene  to  those  who  have  “been  there. ” 

In  the  morning,  when  the  company  was  ordered 
out  for  drill,  Si  Klegg  was  standing  before  the 
sputtering  fire  trying  to  dry  his  steaming  clothes, 
every  now  and  then  turning  around  to  give  the 
other  side  a chance.  The  mercury  in  his  indi- 
vidual thermometer  had  fallen  to  a very  low 
point — in  fact,  it  was  a cold  day  for  Si’s  patriot- 
ism. He  had  reached  that  stage,  not  by  any 
means  infrequent  among  the  soldiers,  when  he 
“didn’t  care  whether  school  kept  or  not.” 

“Well,  Si,  I s’pose  you  love  your  country  this 
mornin’!”  said  “Shorty.”  He  was  endeavoring 
to  be  cheeiful  under  adverse  circumstances. 

“I  ain’t  quite  as  certain  about  it,”  said  Si,  re- 
flectively, “as  I was  when  I left  home,  up  in 
Posey  County.  I’m  afeared  I haven’t  got  enough 
of  it  to  last  me  through  three  years  of  this  sort  of 
thing!” 

Si  felt  at  that  moment  as  though  he  was  of  no 
account  for  anything,  unless  it  was  to  be  decked 
with  paint  and  feathers  and  stand  for  a sign  in 
front  of  a cigar  store. 

The  rain  had  ceased,  and  the  Colonel  of  the 
200th  felt  that  he  must,  like  the  busy  bee,  “im- 
prove each  shining  hour”  in  putting  his  com- 
mand into  condition  for  effective  service.  So  he 
told  the  Adjutant  to  have  the  companies  march- 
ed over  to  an  adiacent  pasture  for  drill. 


74 


SI  KLEGO. 


“Attention,  Co  Q!”  shouted  the  Captain,  after 
the  Orderly  had  got  the  boys  limbered  up  enough 


to  get  into  ranks.  The  Captain  didn’t  know 
very  much  about  drilling  himself,  but  he  had 


ON  COMPANY  DRILL. 


75 


Been  reading  up  “Hardee,”  and  thought  he  could 
handle  the  company;  but  it  was  a good  deal  like 
the  blind  trying  to  lead  the  blind. 

“Right-Face!” 

Not  quite  half  the  men  faced  the  wrong  way, 
turning  to  the  left  instead  of  the  right,  which 
was  doing  pretty  well  for  a starter. 

“Get  around  there,  Klegg,  and  the  rest  of  you 
fellows!  Can’t  ye  ever  learn  anything.” 

Si  was  so  particularly  awkward  that  the  Cap- 
tain put  him  at  the  tail-end  of  the  company. 
Then  he  tried  the  right  face  again,  and  as  the 
boys  seemed  to  get  around  in  fair  shape  he  com- 
manded: 

“Right  shoulder  shift  arms!  Forward — March!” 

The  company  started  oft;  but  the  Captain  was 
not  a little  surprised,  on  looking  back,  to  see  Si 
marching  off  in  the  opposite  direction.  He  had 
faced  the  wrong  way  again,  and,  as  he  didn’t  see 
the  others,  he  thought  he  was  all  right,  and  away 
he  went  on  his  own  hook,  till  a shout  from  the 
Captain  told  him  of  his  mistake. 

When  the  Captain  reached  the  field  which  was 
the  drill-ground  for  the  day,  he  thought  he  would 
try  a wheel.  After  a brief  lecture  to  the  com- 
pany on  the  subject  he  gave  the  command  i&g 
the  movement. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  that  the  first 
trial  was  & sad  failure.  The  line  bulged  out  la 
the  center*  and  the  outer  flank,  unable  to  keep 


76  SJ  KLEGG. 


•*  FORWARD-MARCH  I » 


up,  fell  Behind,  the  company  assuming  nearly  the 
shape  of  the  big  letter  C.  Then  the  boys  on  the 
outer  end  took  the  double-quick,  cutting  across 
the  arc  of  the  p£**per  circle,  which  soon  resulted 
in  a hopeless  wreck  of  the  whole  company.  The 
Captain  halted  the  chaotic  mass  of  struggling 
men,  and  with  the  helg  et  the  Orderly  finally 
szwmed&z  in  g«$£ng  them  straightened  out  and 
into  line  again.  The  men  had  often  seen  prac- 


ON  COMP4NY  DRILL. 


77 


ticed  soldiers  going  though  this  most  difficult  of 
all  tactical  movements,  and  it  seemed  easy 
enough;  ibey  didn’t  see  why  they  couldn’t  do  it 
just  as  well  as  the  other  fellows.  They  kept  at 
it,  and  in  the  course  of  half  an  hour  had  improved 
so  much  that  they  could  swing  around  in  some 
kind  of  shape  without  the  line  breaking  to 
pieces 


“ COMPANY— LETT  WHEEL  V* 

Co.  Q had  a similar  experience  in  trying  to  learn 
some  of  the  other  evolutions.  Before  returning 
to  camp  the  Captain  thought  he  would  put  the 
boys  through  a little  skirmish  drill. 


78 


SI  KLEGG. 


Si  had  thought  all  along  he  would  make  a good 
skirmisher,  where  it  was  every  man  for  himself, 
and  he  took  hold  of  this  drill  with  a zeal  that 
piomised  good  results. 


SI  LEARNS  HOW  TO  DO  IT. 


SI  GETS  A LETTER. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

SI  GETS  A LETTER— AND  WRITES  ONE  TO  PRETTY 
ANNABEL,  UNDER  DIFFICULTIES. 

“Company  Q,  tumble  up  here  and  git  yer  mail!,, 
shouted  the  Orderly  one  afternoon,  soon  after  the 
200th  Ind.  turned  into  a tobacco  patch  to  bivouac 
for  the  night.  It  had  been  two  weeks  since  the 
regiment  left  Louisville,  and  this  was  the  first 
mail  that  had  caught  up  with  it. 

It  seemed  to  the  boys  as  if  they  had  been  away 
from  home  a year.  For  a whole  fortnight  thev 
hadn’t  heard  a word  from  their  mothers,  or  sis- 
ters, or  their  “girls.”  Si  Klegg  couldn’t  have  felt 
more  lonesome  and  forsaken  if  he  had  been  Rob- 
inson Crusoe. 

In  the  excitement  of  distributing  the  mail  every 
thing  else  was  forgotten.  The  boys  were  all  get- 
ting their  suppers,  but  at  the  thought  of  letters 
from  home  even  hunger  had  to  take  a back  seat. 

Si  left  his  coffee-pot  to  tip  over  into  the  fire, 
and  his  bacon  sizzling  in  the  frying-pan,  as  ne 
elbowed  his  way  into  the  crowd  that  huddled 
around  the  Orderly. 

“If  there  ain’t  more’n  one  letter  for  me.”  said  Si 
softly  to  himself,  “I  hope  it’ll  be  from  Annabel; 


80 


SI  KLECHjL 


but,  of  course,  Fd  like  to  hear  from  Ma  and  sis- 
ter Marier,  too!” 

The  Orderly,  with  a big  package  of  letters  in 
his  hand,  was  calling  out  the  names,  and  as  the 


A LETTER  FOR  SI. 

Jioys  received  their  letters  they  distributed  them- 
selves through  the  camp,  squatting  about  on  rails 
or  on  the  ground,  devouring  with  the  greatest 
avidity  the  welcome  messages  from  home.  The 
eamg  looked  as  if  there  had  been  a snowstorm,  j 


SI  GETS  A LETTER. 


81 


Si  waited  anxiously  to  hear  bis  name  called 
as  the  pile  of  letters  rapidly  grew  smaller,  and 
he  began  to  think  he  was  going  to  get  left. 

“Josiah  Klegg!”  at  length  shouted  the  Orderly, 
as  he  held  out  two  letters.  Si  snatched  them 
from  his  hand,  went  off  by  himself,  and  sat  down 
on  a log. 


IT  IS  FROM  ANNABEL. 


Si  looked  at  his  letters  and  saw  that  one  ot 
them  was  addressed  in  a pretty  hand.  He  had 
never  received  a letter  from  Annabel  before,  but 


82 


81  KLEGO. 


he  “felt  it  in  his  bones”  that  this  one  was  from 
her.  He  glanced  around  to  be  certain  nobody 
was  looking  at  him,  and  gently  broke  the  seal, 
while  a ruddy  glow  overspread  his  beardless 
cheeks.  But  he  was  secure  from  observation,  as 
everybody  else  was  similarly  intent. 

“Dear  Si,”  the  letter  began.  He  didn’t  have  to 
turn  over  to  the  bottom  of  the  last  page  to  know 
what  name  he  would  find  there.  He  read  those 
words  over  and  over  a dozen  times,  and  they  set 
his  nerves  tingling  clear  down  to  his  toe-nails. 
Si  forgot  his  aches  and  blisters  as  he  read  on 
through  those  delicious  lines. 

She  wrote  how  anxious  she  was  to  hear  from 
him  and  how  cruel  it  was  of  him  not  to  write  to 
her  real  often;  how  she  lay  awake  nights  think- 
ing about  him  down  among  those  awful  rebels; 
how  she  supposed  that  by  this  time  h*.  ^mst  be 
full  of  bullet-holes;  and  didn’t  he  get  hungry 
sometimes,  and  wasn’t  it  about  time  for  him  to  get 
a furlough?  how  it  was  just  too  mean  for  anything 
that  tk^se  men  down  South  had  to  get  up  a war; 
how  proud  she  was  of  Si  because  he  had  ’listed, 
and  how  she  watched  the  newspapers  every  day 
t(  find  somethin?  ab^ut  him;  how  she  wandered 
now  many  rebels  he  had  killed,  and  if  he  had 
captured  any  batteries  yet — she  said  she  didn’t 
cjmte  know  what  batteries  were,  but  she  read  a 
?ood  deal  about  capturing  ’em,  and  she  supposed 
it  was  something  all  the  soldiers  did;  how  she 


SI  GETS  A LETTER 


83 


hoped  he  wouldn’t  forget  her,  and  she’d  like  to 
see  how  he  looked,  now  that  he  was  a real  soldier, 
and  her  father  had  sold  the  old  “mooley”  cow, 
and  Sally  Perkins  was  engaged  to  Jim  Johnson, 
who  had  stayed  at  home,  and  as  for  herself  she 
wouldn’t  have  anybody  but  a soldier  about  the 
size  of  Si,  and  ’Squire  Jones’s  son  had  been  try- 
ing to  shine  up  to  her  and  cut  Si  out,  but  she 
sent  him  off  with  a flea  in  his  ear. — “Yours  till 
deth,  Annabel.” 

The  fact  that  there  was  a word  misspelt  now 
and  then  did  not  detract  in  the  least  from  the 
letter,  so  pleasing  to  Si.  In  fact,  he  was  a littie 
lame  in  orthography  himself,  so  that  he  had 
neither  the  ability  nor  the  disposition  to  scan 
Annabel’s  pages  with  a critic’s  eye.  Si  was 
happy,  and  as  he  began  to  cast  about  for  his 
supper  he  even  viewed  with  complacence  his 
bacon  burned  to  a crisp  and  his  capsized  coffee- 
pot helplessly  melting  away  in  the  fire. 

“Well,  Si,  what  does  she  say?”  said  his  friend 
“Shorty.” 

“What  does  who  say?”  replied  Si,  getting  red 
in  the  face,  and  bristling  up  and  trying  to  as- 
sume an  air  of  indifference. 

“Just  look  here  now,  Si,”  said  Shorty,  “you 
can’t  play  that  on  me.  How  about  that  rosy- 
cheekud  girl  up  in  Posey  County?3’ 

It  was  Si’s  tender  spot.  He  hadn’t  got  used  to 
that  sort  of  thing  yet,  and  he  felt  that  the  emo- 


84 


SI  KLEGO. 


tions  that  made  his  heart  t!  b like  a sawmill 
were  too  sacred  to  be  fooled  with.  Impelled  by 


a sudden  impulse  he  smote  Shorty  fairly  Be- 
tween the  eyes,  felling  him  to  the  ground. 

The  Orderly,  who  happened  to  be  near,  took  Si 


81  GETS  A LETTER.  85 

b)  the  oar  an  1 m r !i  i him  up  t<>  the  Captain’s 

quarters. 

"Have  him  carry  a rail  in  front  of  my  tent  for 
an  hour!”  thundered  the  Captain.  “Don’t  let  it 
be  a splinter,  either;  pick  out  a good,  heavy  one. 
And,  Orderly,  detail  a guard  to  keep  Mr.  Kl 
moving.” 

Our  artist  has  shown  how  Si  looked  whilo  ne 
was  doing  penance  for  his  evil  deed.  Of  course, 
it  was  very  mortifying  to  Si,  and  he  would  have 
been  almost  heartbroken  had  he  not  been  com- 
forted by  the  thought  that  it  was  all  for  her!  At 
first  he  felt  as  if  he  would  like  to  take  that  rail 
and  charge  around  and  destroy  the  whole  reg: 
ment;  but,  on  thinking  it  over,  he  made  up  his 
mind  that  discretion  was  the  better  part  of  valor. 

As  soon  as  Si’s  hour  was  up,  and  he  had  eaten 
supper  and  “made  up”  with  Shorty,  he  set  abou+ 
answering  his  letter.  When,  on  his  first  marcn, 
Si  cleaned  out  all  the  surplusage  from  his  knap- 
sack, he  had  hung  on  to  a pretty  portfolio  that 
his  sister  gave  him.  This  was  stocked  with  post- 
age stamps  and  writing  materials,  including  an 
assortment  of  the  envelopes  of  the  period,  bearing 
in  gaudy  colors  National  emblems,  stirring  legends, 
and  harrowing  scenes  of  slaughter,  all  intended 
to  stimulate  the  patriotic  impulses  and  make  the 
breast  of  the  soldier  a very  volcano  of  martial 
ardor. 


86 


SI  KLEGG. 


When  Si  got  out  liis  nice  portfolio  he  found  it  to 
be  an  utter  wreck.  It  had  been  jammed  into  a 
shapeless  mass,  and,  besides  this,  it  had  been 


eoaked  with  rain;  paper  and  envelopes  were  a 
pulpy  ruin,  and  the  postage  stamps  were  stuck 
around  here  and  there  in  the  chaos.  It  was  plain 
that  this  memento  of  home  had  fallen  an  early 
victim  to  the  hardships  of  campaign  life,  and  that 
its  days  of  usefulness  were  over. 


SI  GETS  A LETTER. 


87 


“It's  no  use;  ’tain’t  any  good!”  s.dd  Si.  sorrow- 
fully, as  he  tossed  the  debris  into  t!io  fire,  after 
vainly  endeavoring  to  save  from  the  wreck 
enough  to  carry  out  his  epistolary  scheme. 

Then  he  went  to  the  sutler — or  “skinner,”  as 
he  was  better  known — and  paid  10  cents  for  a 
sheet  of  paper  and  an  envelope,  on  which  were 
the  cheerful  words,  “It  is  sweet  to  die  for  one’s 
country!”  and  10  cents  more  for  a 3-cenfc  postage 
stamp.  He  borrowed  a leadpencil,  hunted  up  a 
piece  of  cracker-box,  and  sat  down  to  his  work 
by  the  flickering  light  of  the  fire.  Si  wrote: 

“Dear  Annie.” 

There  he  stopped,  and  while  he  was  scratching 
his  head  and  thinking  what  he  would  say  next  the 
Orderly  came  around  detailing  guard  n for  the 
night,  and  directed  Klegg  to  get  his  t*aps  and 
report  at  once  for  duty. 

“It  hain’t  my  turn,”  said  Si.  “There’s  Bill 
Browm,  and  Jake  Schneider,  and  Pat  Dooley,  and 
a dozen  mere — I’ve  been  on  since  they  have!” 

But  the  Orderly  did  not  even  deign  to  reply.  Si 
remembered  the  guard-house,  and  his  shoulder 
still  ached  from  the  rail  he  had  carried  that  even- 
ing; so  he  quietly  folded  up  tns  paper  and  took 
his  place  with  the  detail. 

The  next  morning  the  army  moved  eaHy,  and 
Si  had  no  chance  to  resume  his  letter.  Is 
as  the  regiment  halted,  after  an  18- mile  mai«hk 
he  tackled  it  again.  This  time  nothing  hett-er 


83 


SI  KLEGO. 


offered  in  the  way  of  a writing-desk  than  a tin 
plate,  which  he  placed  face  downward  upon  his 
knee.  Thus  provided,  Si  plunged  briskly  into  the 
job  before  him,  with  the  following  result: 

“I  now  take  my  pen  in  hand  to  let  vou  know 
that  I am  well,  except  the  dog-goned  blisters  on 
my  feet,  and  T hope  tL  >se  few  lines  may  find  you 
enjoying  the  same  blessing.* 

Si  thought  thir  was  neat  and  a good  start  for 
his  letter.  Just  as  he  had  caught  an  idea  for  the 
next  sentence  a few  scattering  shots  were  heard 
on  the  picket-line,  and  in  an  instant  the  camp 
was  in  commotion.  “Fall  in!”  “Be  lively,  men!” 
were  heard  on  every  hand. 

Si  sprang  as  if  he  had  received  a galvanic 
shock,  cramming  the  letter  into  his  pocket.  Of 
course,  there  wasn’t  any  fight.  It  was  only  one 
of  the  scares  that  formed  so  large  a ,part  of  that 
campaign.  But  it  spoiled  Si’s  letter-writing  for 
the  time. 

It  wa/3  nearly  a week  before  he  got  his  letter 
done.  Eta  wrote  part  of  it  using  for  a desk  the 
back  of  a comrade  who  was  sitting  asleep  by  the 
are.  Tie  worked  at  it  whenever  he  could  catch  a 
•;e*v  minutes  between  the  marches  and  the  num- 
erous details  for  guard,  picket,  fatigue  and  other 
duty,  lie  said  to  Annie: 

• Bed n a soljer  aint  quite  what  they  crack  it  up 
*o  be  when  they’re  gittin  a fellow  to  enlist.  It’s 
mi  tv  rough,  and  you’d  better  believe  it.  You 


SI  GETS  A LETTER. 


89 


ought  to  be  glad  you’re  a gurl  and  don’t  haf  to  go. 
I wish’t  I was  a gurl  sometimes.  1 haven’t  kild 
enny  rebbles  yet.  I hain’t  even  seen  one  except 
a fiew  raskils  that  was  tuk  in  by  the  critte*  sol- 
jers,  they  calls  em  cavilry.  Me  and  all  the  rest 


of  the  boys  wants  to  hav  a fite,  but  it  looks  like 
Ginral  Buil  was  af eared,  ard  we  don’t  git 
chance.  I axed  the  Ordly  couldn’t  he  get  me  a 
furlow.  The  Ordly  jest  laft  and  says  to  me,  Si, 
says  he,  yer  don’t  know  as  much  as  a mule.  I 


90 


SI  KLEGG. 


made  fthortv  see  stars  tother  night  because  he 
was  a-talkin’  ’bout  you.  The  Capt’n  made  me 
walk  up  and  down  for  a hour  with  a big  rail  on 
my  sholder.  You  tell  Square  Joneses  boy  that 
he  haint  got  sand  enuff  to  jine  the  army,  and  if 
he  don’t  keep  away  from  you  lie  bust  his  eer  when 
I git  home,  If  I ever  do.  Whattle  you  do  if  I 
shouldn’t  ne»er  see  you  agin?  but  yov  no  this 
glorus  Gpvyr-ent  must  be  perfected,  and  the 
bully  briars  and  Strips  must  flote,  and  your  Si 
is  goiu  to  help  do  it. 

My  pen  i*>  poor,  my  ink  is  pale, 

My  luv  for  you  shall  never  fale. 

Yours,  affeckshnitly.  Si  Klegg.  j 


91 


SI  AND  THE  DOCTORS. 


CHAPTER,  X. 

SI  AND  THE  DOCTORS— HE  JOINS  THE  PALE  PRO- 
CESSION AT  SICK-CALL. 

Si  Klegg  was  a good  specimen  of  a healthy, 
robust  Hoosier  lad — for  he  could  scarcely  be  call- 
ed a man  yet.  Since,  he  lay  in  his  cradle  and  was 
dosed  with  paregoric  and  catnip  tea  like  other 
babies,  he  had  never  seen  a sick  day,  except 
when  he  had  the  mumps  on  “both  sides ” at 
once.  He  had  done  all  he  could  to  starve  the 
doctors. 

[ When  the  200th  Ind.  took  the  field  it  had  the, 
usual  outfit  of  men  who  wrote  their  names  sand- 
wiched between  a military  title  in  front  and  “M. 
D.”  behind,  a big  hospital  tent,  and  an  apothe- 
cary shop  on  wheels,  loaded  to  the  guards  wi ta 
quinine,  blue-mass,  castor  oil,  epsom  salts,  and 
all  other  devices  to  assuage  the  sufferings  of 
humanity. 

The  boys  all  started  out  in  good  shape,  and 
there  had  been  hardly  time  for  them  to  get  sick 
much  yet.  So  up  to  this  stage  of  the  regiment’s*, 
history  the  doctors  had  found  little  to  do  but 
issue  arnica  and  salve  for  lame  legs  and  blis- 
tered feet,  and  strut  around  in  their  shiny  uni- 
forms. 


92 


SI  KLEGG. 


But  there  came  a day  when  they  had  all  they 
could  attend  to.  On  going  into  camp  one  after- 
noon, the  regiment,  being  well  in  advance, 
struck  a big  field  of  green  corn  and  an  orchard  of 


J 


LAYING  THE  FOUNDATION. 

half-ripe  apples.  Of  course,  the  boys  sailed  in, 
and  natural  consequences  followed. 

“Now  this  is  something  like!”  said  Si,  as  he 
squatted  gn  the  ground  along  with  Shorty  and 


SI  AND  THE  DOCTORS. 


93 


half  a dozen  messmates.  They  surrounded  a 
camp-kettle  full  of  steaming  ears  and  half  a 
bushel  or  so  of  apples  heaped  on  a poncho. 

“Wish  we  had  some  o’  mother’s  butter  to  grease 
this  corn  with,”  observed  Si,  as  he  flung  a cob 
into  the  fire  and  seized  a fresh  ear. 

All  agreed  that  Si’s  head  was  level  on  the 
butter  question,  but  under  all  the  circumstances 
of  the  case  they  were  glad  enough  to  have  the 
corn  without  butter. 

The  ears  went  off  with  amazing  rapiditv. 
Every  man  rued  to  be  afraid  he  wouldn’t  get 
his  share.  ^ n the  kettle  was  empty  the  boys 
turned  then  es  loose  on  the  apples,  utterly 
reckless  of  results.  So,  they  were  filled  full,  and 
were  thankful. 

When  Si  got  up  he  burst  off  half  the  button  s 
on  his  clothes.  He  looked  as  if  he  was  can-yin  < 
a bass-drum  in  front  of  him.  After  he  began  to 
shrink  he  had  to  tie  up  his  clot’  with  a strino 
until  he  had  a c1  ance  to  repair  damages  But 
during  the  next  24  hours  he  had  somethin^  else 
to  think  of. 

In  fact, it  wasn’t  long  till  Si  began  to  wish  he 
had  eaten  an  ear  of  corn  and  an  apple  or  two  less. 
He  didn’t  feel  very  well.  He  turner  'a  early, 
thinking  he  would  go  to  sleep  and  be  all  right  in 
the  morning. 

Along  in  the  night  he  uttered  a yell  that  came 
near  stampeding  the  company.  An  ^ lormous 


94 


81  KLEGGr 


colic  was  raging  abound  in  his  interior,  and  Si 
fairly  howled  with  pain.  He  thought  he  was  go- 
ing to  die  right  away. 

“Shorty,”  said  he,  between  the  gripes,  to  his 
comrade,  “I’m  afeard  I’m  goin’  to  peter  out.  After 
I’m  gone  you  write  to — to— Annie  and  tell  her  I 


died  for  my  country  like  a man.  I’d  ruther  been 
shot  than  die  with  the  colic,  but  1 ’spose  ’twont 
make  much  difference  after  it’s  all  oyer!” 

“I’ll  do  it,”  replied  Shorty.  “We’ll  plant  you  in 
good  shape;  and,  Si,  we’ll  gather  up  the  corn-cobs 
and  build  a monument  oyer  youl” 


SI  AND  THE  DOCTORS.  95 

But  Si  wasn’t  cut  off  in  the  bloom  of  youth  by 
that  colic.  His  eruptive  condition  frightened 
Shorty,  however,  and  though  he  was  in  nearly  as 
bad  shape  himself,  he  went  up  and  routed  out 
one  of  the  doctors,  who  growled  a good  deal  about 
being  disturbed. 

The  debris  of  the  supper  scattered  about  the 
camp  told  him  what  was  the  matter,  and  he  had 
no  need  to  make  a critical  diagnosis  of  Si’s  case. 
He  gave  him  a dose  of  something  or  other  that 
made  the  pain  let  up  a little,  and  Si  managed  to 
rub  along  through  the  night. 

Fortunately  for  Si,  and  for  more  than  half  the 
members  of  the  regiment,  the  army  did  not  move 
next  day,  and  the  doctors  had  a good  opportunity 
to  get  in  their  work. 

At  the  usual  hour  in  the  morning  the  buglei 
blew  the  “sick-call.’1  A regiment  of  tanned  and 
grizzled  veterans  froift  Ohio  lay  next  to  the  200th 
Ind.,  and  as  Si  lay  there  he  heard  them  take  up 
the  music: 

“Git  yer  qui-nine!  Git  yer  qui-nine! 

Tumble  up  you  sick  and  lame  and  blind; 

Gita-long  right  smart, you’ll  be  left  be-hind.” 

'Tall  in  fer  yer  ipecac!”  shouted  the  Orderly  of 
Co.  Q Si  joined  the  procession  and  went  wab- 
bling up  to  the  “doctor’s”  shop.  He  w«s  better 
than  he  had  been  during  the  night,  but  still 
looked  a good  deal  discouraged. 


SI  KLEGOfc 


06 


VISITS  THE  DOCTOR. 


Tf  ^as  a regular  matinee  that  day.  The  Sur- 
geon and  his  assistants  were  all  on  hand,  as  the 
various  squads,  colicky  and  cadaverous,  came 
a focus  in  front  of  the  tent. 

The  doctors  worked  off  the  patients  at  a rapid 
rsib*  genially  giescribing  the  same  medicine  for 


SI  AND  T.+ti  DOCTORS. 


97 


all,  no  matter  what  ailed  them.  This  was  the 
way  the  army  doctors  always  did,  but  it  hap- 
pened in  this  case  that  they  were  not  far  wrong, 
as  the  ailments,  arising  from  a common  cause, 
were  much  the  same. 

Si  waited  till  his  turn  came,  and  received  his 
rations  from  the  Hospital  Steward.  Of  course,  he 
was  excused  from  duty  for  the  day,  and  as  he 
speedily  recovered  his  normal  condition  he  really 
had  a good  time. 

A few  days  after  this  the  whole  regiment  was 
ordered  on  fatigue  duty  to  repair  an  old  corduroy 
road.  Si  didn’t  want  to  go,  and  “played  off.”  He 
told  the  Orderly  he  wasn’t  able  to  work,  but  the 
Orderly  said  he  would  have  to  shoulder  an  ax  or  a 
shovel,  unless  he  was  excused  by  the  doctor. 
He  went  up  at  sick-call  and  made  a wry  face, 
with  his  hands  clasped  over  his  body  in  the  lati- 
tude of  his  waistband. 

The  doctor  gave  him  a lot  of  blue-mass  pills, 
which  Si  threw  into  the  fire  as  soon  as  he  got 
back  to  his  quarters.  Then  he  played  seven-up 
all  day  with  Shorty,  who  had  learned  before  Si 
did  how  to  get  a day  off  when  he  wanted  it. 

Si  thought  it  was  a great  scheme,  but  he  tried 
it  once  two  often.  The  doctor  “caught  on,”  and 
said,  the  next  time  Si  went  up,  that  castor  oil 
^ras  what  he  needed  to  fetch  him  around.  So  he 
poured  out  a large  dose  and  made  Si  take  it  right 
then  and  there. 


98 


SI  KLEGG. 


FIT  FOR  DUTY. 


The  next  time  fatigue  duty  was  ordered  Si 
thought  he  felt  well  enough  to  go  along  with  the 
boys. 


THE  PLAGUE  OF  THE  SOLDIER. 


99 


CHAPTER  XI 

THE  PLAGUE  OF  THE  SOLDIER— INTRODUCTION  TO 
“ONE  WHO  STICKETH  CLOSER  THAN  A BROTHER.” 

“Hello,  Si;  goin’  for  a soljer,  ain’t  ye?” 

“You  bet!” 

f “Wall,  you’d  better  b’lieve  its  great  fun;  it’s 
jest  a picnic  all  the  time!  But,  say,  Si,  let’s  see 
yer  finger-nails!” 

“I’d  like  ter  know  what  finger-nails  ’s  got  to 
do  with  soljerin’!”  said  Si.  “The  ’cruitin’  ossi- 
fer  ’n’  the  man  ’t  keeps  the  doctor  shop  made  me 
shuck  myself,  ’n’  then  they  ’xamined  my  teeth, 
’n’  thumped  me  in  the  ribs,  ’n’  rubbed  down  my 
legs,  ’n’  looked  at  my  hoofs,  same  ’s  if  Pd  bin  a 
hoss  they  wuz  buyin’,  but  they  didn’t  say  nothin’ 
’bout  my  finger-nails.”' 

“You  jest  do  ’s  I tell  ye;  let  ’em  grow,  ’n’  keep 
’em  right  sharp.  Ye’ll  find  plenty  o’  use  fer  ’em 
arter  a while,  ’n’  ’twont  be  long,  nuther.  I know 
what  I’m  talkin’  ’bout;  I’ve  bin  thar!” 

This  conversation  took  place  a day  or  two  be- 
fore Si  bade  farewell  to  his  mother  and  sister 
Marier  and  pretty  Annabel  and  left  the  peaceful 
precincts  of  Posey  County  to  march  away  with 
the  200th  Ind.  for  that  awful  place  vaguely  desig- 
nated as  “the  front!”  He  had  promptly  responded 


100 


SI  KLEGCK 


to  the  call,  and  his  name  was  near  the  top  of  the 
list  of  Company  Q. 

Si  already  had  his  blue  clothes  on.  By  enlist- 
ing early  he  had  a good  pick  of  the  various  gar- 
ments, and  so  got  a suit  that  fitted  his  form — 
which  was  plump  as  an  apple-dumpling — toler- 
ably well.  It  was  left  for  the  tail-enders  of  the 
company  to  draw  trousers  that  were  six  inches 
too  long  or  too  short,  and  blouses  that  either 
wouldn’t  reach  around,  and  left  yawning  chasms 
in  front,  or  were  so  large  that  they  looked  as  if 
they  were  hung  on  bean-poles. 

I Of  course,  Si  couldn’t  be  expected  to  do  any 
more  plodding  farm  work,  now  that  he  had 
“jined”  the  army.  While  the  company  was  filling 
up  he  spent  most  of  his  time  on  dress  parade  in 
the  village  near  by,  eliciting  admiring  smiles 
from  all  the  girls,  and  an  object  of  the  profound- 
est  awe  and  wonder  to  the  small  boys. 

One  day  Si  was  sitting  on  the  sugar-barrel  in 
the  corner  grocery,  gnawing  a “blind  robin,”  and 
telling  how  he  thought  the  war  wouldn’t  last 
long  after  the  200th  Ind.  got  down  there  and 
took  a hand  and  got  fairly  interested  in  the  game; 
they  would  wind  it  up  in  short  meter.  Such 
ardent  emotions  always  seethed  and  bubbled  in 
the  swelling  breasts  of  the  new  troops  when  they 
came  down  to  show  the  veterans  just  how  to  do 
it. 

One  of  the  town  boys  who  had  been  a year  in 


THE  PLAGUE  OF  THE  SOLDIER.  101 

the  service,  had  got  a bullet  through  his  arm  in  a 
skirmish,  and  was  at  home  on  furlough,  came 
into  the  store,  and  then  took  place  the  dialog  be- 
tween him  and  Si  that  opens  this  chapter. 


-LET  YER  NALLS  GROW;  YE’LL  NEED  ’EM l*' 

Si  wondered  a good  deal  what  the  veteran 
meant  about  the  finger-nails.  He  did  not  even 
know  that  there  existed  in  animated  nature  a 
certain  active  and  industrious  insect  which,  be- 


102 


SI  KLEGG. 


fore  he  had  been  in  the  army  a great  while, 
would  cause  his  heart  to  overflow  with  gratitude 
to  a beneficent  Providence  for  providing  him  with 
nails  on  his  fingers. 

When  the  200th  left  Indiana  all  the  boys  had,  of 
course,  brand-new  outfits  right  from  Uncle  Sam’s 
great  one-price  clothing  house.  Their  garments 
were  nice  and  clean,  their  faces  well  washed, 
and  their  hair  yet  showed  marks  of  the  comb. 
At  Louisville  they  stuck  up  their  noses,  with  a 
lofty  consciousness  of  superiority,  at  the  sight  of 
Buell’s  tanned  and  ragged  tramps,  who  had  just 
come  up  on  the  gallop  from  Tennessee  and  north- 
ern Alabama. 

f If  the  new  Hoosie?  fegiment  had  been  quartered 
for  a while  in  long-^sed  barracks,  or  had  pitched 
its  tents  in  an  old  camp,  Si  would  very  soon 
have  learned,  in  the  school  of  experience,  the 
delightful  uses  of  finger-nails.  But  the  200th 
stayed  only  a single  night  in  Louisville  and  then 
joined  the  procession  that  started  on  the  chase 
after  the  rebel  army.  It  generally  camped  on 
new  ground,  and  under  these  circumstances  the 
insect  to  which  allusion  has  been  made  did  not 
begin  its  work  of  devastation  with  that  sudden- 
ness that  usually  marked  its  attack  upon  sol- 
diers entering  the  field.  But  he  never  failed  to 
“get  there”  sooner  or  later,,  and  it  was  more  fre- 
quently sooner  than  later. 

I One  afternoon,  when  a few  days  out  on  this 


THE  PLAGUE  OF  THE  SOLDIER. 


103 


march,  a regiment  of  Wisconsin  veterans  bivou- 
acked next  to  the  200th  Ind.  The  strange  antics  as 
they  threw  off  their  accouterments  attracted  Si’s 
attention. 

“Look  a’  thar,”  he  said  to  Shorty.  “What  ’n 
na  me  of  all  the  prophets ’s  them  fellers  up  to?” 

“Seems  like  they  was  scratchin’  theirselves!” 

“I  s’pose  that’s  on  account  of  the  dust  ’n’  sweat,” 
said  Si. 

“It’s  a mighty  sight  worse  ’n  that!”  replied 
Shorty,  who  knew  more  about  these  things  than 
Si  did.  “I  reckon  we’ll  all  be  doin’  like  they  are 
’fore  long.” 

Si  whistled  softly  to  himself  as  he  watched  the 
Wisconsin  boys.  They  were  hitching  and  twist- 
ing their  shoulders  about,  evidently  enjoying  the 
friction  of  the  clothing  upon  their  skins.  There 
was  a general  employment  of  fingers,  and  often 
one  would  be  seen  getting  some  other  fellow  to 
scratch  his  back  around  where  he  couldn’t  reach 
himself,  if  everybody  was  too  busy  to  do  this 
for  him  he  would  back  up  to  a tree  and  rub  up 
and  down  against  the  bark. 

Life  has  few  pleasures  that  can  equal  the  sen- 
sations of  delightful  enjoyment  produced  in  those 
days,  when  graybacks  wert*  plenty,  by  rubbing 
against  a tree  that  nicely  fitted  the  hollow  of  the 
back,  after  throwing  off  one’s  “traps”  at  the  end 
of  a day’s  march. 

Directly  the  Wisconsin  chaps  began  to  scatter 


104 


SI  KLEGG. 


into  the  woods.  Si  watched  them  as  they  got  Be- 
hind the  trees  and  threw  of!  their  blouses  and 
shirts.  He  thought  at  first  that  perhaps  they 
were  going  in  swimming,  but  there  was  no  stream 
of  water  at  hand  large  enough  to  justify  this 
theory  in  explanation  of  their  nudity.  As  each 
man  sat  down,  spread  his  nether  garment  over 
his  knees  and  appeared  to  be  intently  engaged, 
with  eyes  and  fingers,  Si's  curiosity  was  very 
much  excited. 

“Looks  ’s  if  they  wuz  all  mendin’  up  their 
shirts  an’  sewin’  on  buttons,”  said  Si.  “Guess 
it’s  part  o’  their  regular  drill,  ain’t  it,  Shorty?” 
Shorty  laughed  at  Si’s  ignorant  simplicity.  He 
knewT  what  those  veterans  were  doing,  and  he 
knewr  that  Si  wmild  have  to  come  to  it,  but  he 
didn’t  want  to  shock  his  tender  sensibilities  by 
telling  him  of  it. 

“Them  fellers  ain’t  sewin’  on  no  buttons,  Si,” 
he  replied;  “they’re  skirmishin’.” 

“Skirmishin’l”  exclaimed 4 Si,  opening  his  eyes 
very  wide.  “1  haint  seen  any  signs  o’  rebs 
’round  here,  ?n’  there  aint  any  shootin’  goin’  on, 
’nless  I’ve  lost  my  hearin’.  Durned  if ’t  aint  the 
funniest  skirmishin’  I ever  hearn  tell  of!” 

“Now,  don’t  ax  me  nuthin’  more  ’bout  it.  Si,” 
said  Shorty.  All  I’m  goin’  to  tell  ye  is  that  the 
*bnger  ye  live  the  more  ye’ll  find  things  out* 
Let’s  flax  ’round  ’n’  git  supper!” 

A little  while  after*  as  Si  wan  squatting  on  the 


THE  PLAGUE  OF  THE  SOLDIER.  "105 

ground  holding  the  frying-pan  over  the  fire,  he 
saw  a strange  insect  vaguely  wandering  about 
on  the* sleeve  of  his  blouse.  It  seemed  to  be  look- 
ing for  something,  and  Si  became  interested  as 
he  watched  it  traveling  up  and  down  his  arm. 
He  had  never  seen  one  like  it  before,  and  he 
thought  he  would  like  to  know  what  it  was.  He 
would  have  asked  Shorty,  but  his  comrade  had 
gqne  to  the  spring  for  water.  Casting  his  eye 
around  he  saw  the  Captain,  who  chanced  to  be 
sauntering  through  the  camp. 

The  Captain  of  Co.  Q had  been  the  Principal  of 
a seminary  in  Posey  County,  and  was  looked 
upon  with  awe  by  the  simple  folk  as  a man  who 
knew  about  all  that  was  worth  knowing.  Si 
thought  he  might  be  able  to  tell  him  all  about 
the  harmless-looking  little  stranger. 

So  he  put  down  his  frying-pan  and  stepped  up 
to  the  Captain,  holding  out  his  arm  and  keep- 
ing his  eye  on  the  insect  so  that  he  shouldn’t  get 
away. 

“Good  evenin’,  Cap.”  said  Si,  touching  his  hat, 
and  addressing  him  with  that  familiar  disregard 
of  official  dignity  that  characterized  the  average 
volunteer,  who  generally  felt  that  he  was  just  as 
good  as  anybody  who  wore  shoulder  straps. 

“Good  evening,  Klegg,”  said  the  Captain,  re- 
turning th«  jalute. 

“Say,  Cap,  you’ve  bin  ter  collidge  ’n’  got  filled 
up  with  book-l’arnin’;  p’raps  ye  kin  tell  me 


106 


SI  CLEGG. 


kind  o*  bug  this  is.  I’m  jest  a little  bit  curus  to 
know.” 

And  Si  pointed  to  the  object  of  his  inquiry  that 
was  leisurely  creeping  toward  a hole  in  the  elbow 
of  his  outer  garment. 


“Well,  Josiah,”  said  the  Captain,  after  a brief 
inspection,  “I  presume  I don’t  know  quite  as 
much  as  some  people  think  I do;  but  1 guess  1 
can  tell  you  something  about  that  insect.  1 never 
had  any  of  them  myself,  but  I’ve  read  of  themr” 


THE  PLAGUE  OF  THE  SOLDIER. 


107 


“Never  l»  <{  ’em  hi jii sel f . ” thought  Si.  u What 
*n  the  world  does  he  mean?”  And  Si’s  big  eyes 
opened  with  wonder  and  rear  at  the  thought  that 
whatever  it  was  he  had  “got  ’em.” 

“I  suppose,”  continued  the  Captain,  “you 
would  like  to  know  the  scientific  name?” 

“I  reck’n  that’ll  do ’s  well ’s  any.” 

“Well,  sir,  that  is  a Pediculus.  That’s  a Latin 
word,  but  it’s  his  name.” 

“Purty  big  name  fer  such  a leetle  bug,  ain’t  it, 
Perfessor?  observed  Si.  “Name’s  big  enough  for 
an  el’fant  er  a ’potamus.” 

ft  may  seem  so,  Klegg;  but  when  you  get 
intimately  acquainted  with  him  I think  you  will 
find  that  his  name  isn’t  any  too  large  for  him. 
There  is  a good  deal  more  of  him  than  you  think. 
The  young  soldier’s  eyes  opened  still  wider. 
“I  was  going  on  to  tell  you,”  continued  the  Cap- 
tain, “that  there  are  several  kinds  of  Pediculi — 
we  don't  say  Pediculuses.  There  is  the  Pedicu- 
lus Capitis — Latin  again — but  it  means  the  kind 
that  lives  on  the  head.  I presume  when  you  were 
a little  shaver  your  mother  now  and  then  har- 
rowed your  head  with  a fine-tooth  comb?” 

“Ya-as!”  said  Si;  “she  almost  took  tha  hide  o£f 
sometimes,  ’n’  made  me  yell  like  an  Injun.” 

“Now,  Klegg,  I don’t  wish  to  cause  you  un- 
necessary alarm,  but  I will  say  that  the  head 
insect  isn’t  a circumstance  to  this  one  on  your 
arm.  As  you  would  express  it,  perhaps,  he  can’t 


108 


SI  KLEOG. 


hold  a candle  to  him.  This  lellow  is  the  Pedicu- 
lus  Corporis!” 

“1  s’pose  that  means  they  eats  up  Corporals !” 
said  Si. 

“1  do  not  think  the  Pediculus  Corporis  confines 
lrimsfdf  exclusively  to  Corporals,  as  his  name 
might  indicate,”  said  the  Captain,  laughing  at 
Si’s  literal  translation  and  his  personal  applica- 
tion of  the  word.  “He  no  doubt  likes  a juicy  and 
succulent  Corporal,  but  I don’t  believe  he  is  any 
respecter  of  persons.  That’s  my  opinion,  from 
what  I’ve  heard  about  him.  It  is  likely  that  I 
will  be  able  to  speak  more  definitely,  from  ex- 
perience, after  a while.  Corporis  means  that  he 
is  the  kind  that  pastures  on  the  human  body. 
But  there’s  one  thing  more  about  this  fellow. 
They  sometimes  call  him  Pediculus  Vestimenti; 
that  is  because  he  lives  around  i^  the  clothing, 
“But  we  don’t  wear  no  vests,”  said  Si,  taking 
a practical  view  of  this  new  word;  “nothin’  but 
blouses,  ’n’  pants,  ’n’  shirts.” 

“You  are  too  literal,  Klegg.  That  word  means 
any  kind  of  clothes.  But  I guess  I’ve  told  you 
as  much  about  him  as  you  care  to  know  at  pres- 
ent. If  you  want  any  more  information,  after  two 
or  three  weeks,  come  and  see  me  again.  I think 
by  that  time  you  will  not  find  it  necessary  to  ask 
any  more  questions.” 

Si  went  back  to  his  cooking,  with  the  pediou- 
lus  still  on  his  arm.  He  wanted  to  show  it  to 


THE  PLAGUE  OF  THE  SOLDIER.  1C§ 

Shorty.  The  Captain’s  profound  explanation, 
with  its  large  words,  was  a little  too  much  for  Si 
He  did  not  yet  clearly  comprehend  the  matter,  and 


as  he  walked  thoughtfully  to  where  Shorty  was 
“bilin’  ” the  coffee  he  was  trying  to  get  through 
his  head  what  it  all  meant. 

“Hello,  Si,”  said  Shorty;  “whar  ye  bin?  What 
d’ye  mean,  goin’  off  ’n’  leavin’  yer  sowbelly  half 
done?” 


110 


cl  KLEGG. 


“Sh  h!”  replied  Si.  “Ye  needn’t  git  yer  back 
up  about  it.  Bin  talkin’  to  the  Cap’n.  Shorty, 
look  at  that  ’ere  bug!” 

And  Si  pointed  to  the  object  of  the  Captain’s 
lecture  on  natural  history  that  was  still  creeping 
on  his  arm.  Shorty  slapped  his  thigh  and  burst 
into  a loud  laugh. 

“Was  that  what  ye  went  to  see  the  Cap’n  ’bout?” 
he  asked  as  soon  as  he  could  speak. 

“Why — ya-as,”  replied  Si,  somewThat  surprised 
at  Shorty’s  unseemly  levity.  “I  saw  that  thing 
crawlin’  round,  ’n’  I was  a-wonderin’  what  it  was, 
fer  I never  seen  one  afore.  I knowed  Cap.  was  a 
scolard,  ’n’  a perfesser,  ’n’  all  that,  ’n’  I ’lowed 
he  c’d  tell  me  all  about  it.  So  I went  ’n’  axed 
him.” 

“What’d  he  tell  ye?” 

“He  told  me  lots  o’  big,  heathenish  words,  ’n’ 
said  this  bug  was  a ridiculous,  er  suthin’  like 
that.” 

“’Diculus  be  blowed!”  said  Shorty.  . “The  ole 
man  was  a-stuffin’  of  ye.  I’ll  tell  ye  what  that 
is,  Si,”  he  added  solemaly,  “that’s  a grayback!” 

“A  grayback!”  said  Si.  “I’ve  hearn  ’em  call 
the  Johnnies  graybacks,  but  I didn’t  know  ’s 
there  was  any  other  kind.” 

“I  reck’n  ’twont  be  long,  now,  t’ll  yer  catches 
on  ter  the  meanin’  of  what  a grayback  is.  Ye’ll 
know  all  ’bout  it  purty  sudden.  This  ain’t  the 
first  one  I ever  seen.” 


THE  PLAGUE  OF  THE  SOLDIEh,.  HI 

Si  was  impressed,  as  he  had  often  been  before, 
by  Shorty’s  superior  wisdom  and  experience. 

“See  here,  Si,”  Shorty  continued,  as  his  eye 
suddenly  lighted  up  with  a brilliant  thought, 
“I  guess  I kin  make  ye  understand  what  a gray- 
back  is.  What  d’ye  call  that  coat  ye’ve  got  on?” 

“Why,  that’s  a fool  question;  it’s  a blouse,  of 
course!” 

“Jesso!”  said  Shorty.  “Now,  knock  off  the  fust 
letter  o’  that  word,  ’n’  see  what  ye  got  left!” 

Si  looked  at  Shorty  as  if  he  thought  his  conun- 
drums were  an  indication  of  approaching  idiocy. 
Then  he  said,  half  to  himself: 

“Let’s  see!  Blouse — blouse — take  off  the  ‘b’ 
’n’  she  spells  1-o-u-s-e,  louse!  Great  Scott, 
Shorty,  is  that  a louse?” 

“That’s  jest  the  size  of  it,  Si.  Ye’ll  have  mil- 
lions of  ’em  ’fore  the  war’s  over  ’f  they  don’t 
hurry  up  the  cakes.” 

Si  looked  as  if  he  would  like  to  dig  a hole  in  the 
ground,  get  into  it,  and  have  Shorty  cover  hii 
up, 

“Why  didn’t  the  Cap’n  tell  me  it  was  that?  He 
said  suthin’  about  ridiculus  corporalis,  and  I 
thought  he  was  makin’  fun  o'  me.  He  said  these 
bugs  liked  to  eat  fat  Corporals.” 

“1  reck’n  that’s  so,”  replied  Shorty;  “but  they 
iikes  other  people  jest  as  well — even  a skinny 
feller  like  me.  They  lunches  off’n  privits,  ,n> 
Corp’rils,  ’n’  Kurnals,  ’n’  Gin’rals,  all  the  same. 


112  SI  KLEGG. 

They  ain’t  satisfied  with  three  square  meals  a 
day,  nuther;  they  jest  eats  right  along  all  the 
time  ’tween  regular  meals.  They  alius  gits 
hungry  in  the  night,  too,  and  chaws  a feller  up 
while  he  sleeps.  They  don’t  give  ye  no  show  at 
all.  I rayther  think  the  graybacks  likes  the  ossi- 
fers  best  if  they  could  have  their  ch’ice,  ’cause 
they’s  fatter  ’n  the  privits;  they  gits  better  grub.” 

Si  fairly  turned  pale  as  he  contemplated  the 
picture  so  graphically  portrayed  by  Shorty.  The 
latter’s  explanation  was  far  more  effectual  in 
letting  the  light  in  upon  Si’s  mind  than  the  scien- 
tific disquisition  of  the  “Perfesser.”  He  had  now 
a pretty  clear  idea  of  what  a “grayback”  was. 
Whatever  he  lacked  to  make  his  knowledge  com- 
plete was  soon  supplied  in  the  regular  way.  But 
Si  was  deeply  grieved  and  shocked  at  what  Shorty 
had  told  him.  It  was  some  minutes  before  he 
said  anything  more. 

“Shorty,”  he  said,  with  a sadness  in  his  tone 
that  would  almost  have  moved  a mule  to  tears, 
“who’d  a-thought  I’d  ever  git  as  low  down  ’s 
this,  to  have  them  all-fired  graybacks,  ’s  ye  call 
’em,  crawlin’  over  me.  How’d  mother  feel  if  she 
knew  about  ’em.  She  wouldn’t  sleep  a wink  fer 
a month!” 

“Ye’ll  have  to  come  to  it,  Si.  All  the  soljers 
does,  from  the  Major-Gin’rals  down  to  the  tail- 
end  of  the  mule-whackers.  Ye  mind  them  ’Scon- 
sin  chaps  we  was  lookin’  at  a little  bit  ago?” 


THE  PLAGUE  OF  THE  SOLDIER. 


113 


“Yes,”  said  Si. 

“Wall,  graybacks  was  what  ailed  ’em.  The  fel- 
lers with  their  shirts  on  their  knees  was  killin’ 
’em  off.  That’s  what  they  calls  ‘skirmishin’.’ 
There’s  other  kinds  o’  skirmishing  besides  fitin’ 


if  he  hasn’t  got  inside  already;  then  there’ll  be 
one  less  of  ’em.” 

Si  found  him  after  a short  search,  asid  proposed 
to  get  a chip,  carry  him  to  the  fire  and  throw  him 
in. 

“Naw!”  said  Shorty  in  disgust,  “that’s  no  way. 
Lemme  show  yer  howl” 


114 


SI  KLEGG. 


f Shorty  placed  one  thumb-nail  on  each  side  of 
the  insect.  There  was  a quick  pressure,  a snap 
like  the  crack  of  a precussion  cap,  and  all  was 
Over. 

Si  shuddered,  and  wondered  if  he  could  ever 
engage  in  such  a work  of  slaughter. 

“D’ye  s’pose,”  he  said  to  Shorty,  “that  there’s 
any  more  of  ’em  on  me?  “And  he  began  to  hitch 
his  shoulders  about,  and  to  feel  a desire  to  put  his 
fingers  to  active  use. 

“Shouldn’t  wonder,”  replied  Shorty.  “Mebbe 
I’ve  got  ’em,  too.  Let’s  go  out’n’  do  a little  skir- 
mishin’  ourselves.” 

“We’d  better  go  off  a good  ways,”  said  Si,  “so’s 
the  boys  won’t  see  us.” 

“You’re  too  nice  and  pertickler  for  a soljer,  Si. 
They’ll  all  be  doin’  it,  even  the  Cap’n  himself, 
by  termorrer  er  nex’  day.” 

They  went  out  back  of  the  camp,  where  Si  in- 
sisted on  getting  behind  the  largest  tree  he  could 
find.  Then  they  sat  down  and  engaged  in  that 
exciting  chase  of  the  pediculus  up  and  down  the 
seams  of  their  garments,  so  familiar  to  all  who 
wore  either  the  blue  or  the  gray.  Thousands 
of  nice  young  men  who  are  now  preachers  and 
doctors  and  lawyers  and  statesmen,  felt  just  as 
badly  about  it  at  first  as  Si  did.  But  they  all 
became  very  expert  in  the  use  of  the  thumb-nail. 

“Shorty,”  said  Si,  as  they  slowly  walked  back 
to  eat  their  supper,  which  had  been  neglected  in 


THE  PLAGUE  OF  THE  SOLDIER. 


115 


the  excitement  of  the  hour,  “before  Co.  Q left 
Posey  County  to  jine  the  rigiment  a feller  ’t  was 
home  on  furlow  told  me  ter  let  my  finger- 
nails grow  long  ’n ’ sharp,  lie  said  I’d  need  'em. 
I didn’t  know  what  he  meant  then,  but  i b’lieve 
1 d ) now.” 


116 


SI  KLEGG 


CHAPTER  XH. 

A WET  NIGHT -THE  DEPRAVITY  OF  AN  ARMY  TENT 
. REVEALS  ITSELF. 

' Night  threw  her  dark  mantle  over  the  camp  of 
the  200th  Ind.  The  details  of  guard  and  . picket 
had  been  made.  Videts,  with  sleepless  eye  and 
listening  ear,  kept  watch  and  ward  on  the  out- 
posts, while  faithful  sentries  trod  their  beats 
around  the  great  bivouac.  All  day  the  army 
had  marched,  and  was  to  take  the  road  again  at  an 
early  hour  in  the  morning.  Supper  had  been 
eaten,  and  the  tired  soldiers  were  gathered 
around  the  campfires  that  gleamed  far  and  near 
through  the  darkness. 

“Si,”  said  Shorty  to  his  chum  as  they  sat  on  a 
log  beside  the  dying  embers,  “how  d’ye  like  sol- 
die  riiP,  as  fur  as  ye’ve  got?” 

“IPs  party  hard  business,”  said  Si,  reflectively, 
an’  I s’pose  we  haint  seen  the  worst  on  it  yet, 
either,  from  what  I’ve  Hearn  tell.  Pitv  the  men 
that  got  up  this  war  can’t  be  made  to  do  all  the 
trampin’  ’n’  fitin.’  An’  them  fellers  up  in  old 
Injeanny  that  come  ’round  makin’  such  red-hot 
speeches  to  git  us  boys  to  ’list,  wouldn’t  it  be 
fun  to  see  ’em  humpin’  ’long  wdth  gun  ’n’  knap- 
sack, ’n’  chawin’  hardtack,  ’n’  stan’in’  guard 


A VVKT  N'KiHT 


117 


nights,  ’n’  pourin’  water  on  their  blisters,  ’n 
pickin’  graybacks  off  their  shirts,  ’ir  p’leecin” 
camp,  ’n’  washin’  their  own  clothes?” 

“1  think  we’d  enj’y  seein’  ’em  do  all  that,”  said 
Shorty,  laughing  at  the  picture  Si  had  drawn. 
“I  reckon  most  of  ’em  ’d  peter  out  purty  quick, 
and  I’d  like  to  hear  what  sort  o’  speeches  they’d 
make  then.  I tell  ye,  Si,  there’s  a big  diff’rence 
’tween  goin’  yerself  an5  tellin’  some  other  fellej 
to  go.” 

“Mebbe  they’ll  git  to  draftin ’after  a while,” 
observed  Si,  M’n’  if  they  do  I hope  that’ll  ketch 
em!” 

“Wall,  we’re  in  fur  it,  snyway,”  said  Shorty. 
Let’s  make  down  the  bed  ’n’  turn  in!” 

It  didn’t  take  long  to  complete  the  arrange- 
ments for  the  night.  They  spread  their  “gum” 
blankets,  or  ponchos,  on  the  ground,  within  the 
tent,  and  on  these  their  wool  blankets,  placed 
their  knapsacks  at  the  head  for  pillows,  and  that 
was  all.  It  was  warmer  than  usual  that  even- 
ing, and  they  stripped  down  to  their  nether  gar- 
ments. 

“Feels  good  once  in  a while,”  said  Si,  “to  peel 
a feller’s  clothes  off,  ’n’  sleep  in  a Christian-like 
way.  But,  Great  Scott!  Shorty,  ain’t  this  ground 
lumpy?  It’s  like  lying  on  a big  washboard.  I 
scooted  all  over  the  country  huntin’  fer  straw  to- 
night. There  wasn’t  but  one  little  stack  within 
a mile  of  camp.  Them  derned  Ohiochaps  gobbled 


118 


SI  KLEGGr. 


every  smidgin  of  it  They  didn’t  leave  enuff  to 
make  a hum m i n ’ bird’s  nest.  The  200th  Ind.’ll 
git  even  with  ’em  some  day.” 

So  Si  and  Shorty  crept  in  between  the  blankets, 
drew  the  top  one  up  to  their  chins,  and  adjusted 
their  bodily  protuberances  as  best  they  could  to 
fit  the  ridges  and  hollows  beneath  them. 

‘‘Now,  Si,”  said  Shorty,  “don’t  ye  git  to  fitin’ 
rebels  in  yer  sleep  and  kick  the  kiver  off,  as  ye 
did  last  night!” 

As  they  lay  there  their  ears  caught  the  music 
of  the  bugles  sounding  the  “tattoo.”  Far  and 
near  floated  through  the  clear  night  air  the  famil- 
iar melody  that  warned  every  soldier  not  on  duty 
to  go  to  bed.  Next  to  the  200th  Ind.  lay  a regi- 
ment of  wild  Michigan  veterans,  who  struck  up, 
following  the  strains  of  the  bugles : 

Say,  oh  Dutch-y,  will  ye  fight  mit  Si-gel? 

Zwei  glass  o’  la-ger,  Yaw!  Yaw!  Yaw!!! 

Will  ye  fight  to  help  de  bul-ly  ea-gle? 
v Schweitzer-kase  und  pret-zels,  Hur-raw!-raw! 
raw! 

During  the  night  there  came  one  of  those  sud- 
den storms  that  seemed  to  be  sent  by  an  in- 
scrutable Providence  especially  to  give  variety  to 
the  soldier’s  life.  Gen.  Hazen  was  not  managing 
the  weather  then,  or  it  might  have  been  different. 

A well-developed  cyclone  struck  the  camp,  and 
Si  and  Shorty  were  soon  awakened  by  the  racket. 
The  wind  was  blowing  and  whirling  in  fierce 


A WET  NIGHT. 


119 


gusts,  wrenching  out  the  tent  pins  or  snapping 
the  ropes  as  if  they  were  threads.  Everywhere 
was  heard  the  dapping  of  canvas,  and  the  yells 


STRUCK  BY  A CYCLONE. 


and  shouts  of  the  men  as  they  dashed  about  in 
the  darkness  and  wild  confusion.  Many  of  the 
tents  were  already  prostrate,  and  their  demoral- 
ized inmates  were  crawling  out  from  under  the 
ruin.  To  ciown  all  the  rain  began  to  fall  in  tor- 
rents. The  camp  was  a vast  pandemonium. 
The  blackest  darkness  prevailed,  save  when  the 
scene  was  illuminated  by  flashes  of  lightning. 


120 


SI  KLEGG. 


These  were  followed  by  peals  of  thunder  that  made 
the  stoutest  quake. 

Si  sprang  up  at  the  first  alarm.  “Git  up,  here, 
you  fellers!”  he  shouted.  “We’d  better  go  out- 
side and  grab  the  ropes,  or  the  hull  shebang  ’ll 
go  over.” 

There  was  not  a moment  to  spare.  Si  dashed 
out  into  the  storm  and  darkness,  followed  by  his 
comrades.  Seizing  the  ropes,  some  of  which  were 
already  loosened,  they  braced  themselves  and 
hung  on  for  dear  life,  in  the  drenching  rain,  their 
hair  and  garments  streaming  in  the  wind. 

Si’s  prompt  action  saved  the  tent  from  the  gen- 
eral wreck.  The  fury  of  the  storm  was  soon  past. 
Si  and  his  comrades,  after  driving  the  pins  and 
securing  the  ropes,  re-entered  the  tent,  wet  and 
shivering — for  the  mercury  had  gone  down  with 
a tumble,  or  rather  it  would  have  done  so  had 
they  been  supplied  with  thermometers.  But  the 
scanty  costume  in  which  Si  found  himself  af- 
forded a weather  indicator  sufficiently  accurate 
for  all  practical  purposes. 

The  ground  was  flooded,  and  their  blankets  and 
garments  were  fast  absorbing  the  water  that  flow- 
ed around  in  such  an  exasperating  way.  Sleep 
under  such  conditions  was  out  of  the  question. 
Si  and  Shorty  put  on  their  clothes  and  tried  to 
make  the  best  of  their  sorry  plight. 

By  this  time  the  rain  had  nearly  ceased.  For- 
unately  they  had  laid  in  a good  stock  of  fuel  the 


i WET  NIGHT. 


121 


night  before,  and  after  a little  patient  effort  they 
succeeded  in  getting  a fire  started.  Around  this 
the  boys  hovered,  alternately  warming  their 
calves  and  shins. 

“This  is  a leetle  more’n  I bargained  fer,”  said 
Si.  Then,  taking  a philosophical  view  of  the  case, 
he  added,  “but  there’s  one  good  thing  about  it, 
Shorty,  we’ll  be  all  fixed  for  mornin’,  an’  we  won’t 
have  to  get  up  when  they  soufid  the  revel-lee. 
The  buglers  kin  jest  bust  theirselves  a-blowin’, 
fer  all  I keer!” 

In  this  way  the  soldiers  spent  the  remainder  of 
the  night.  Before  daybreak  the  blast  of  a hundred 
bugles  rang  out,  but  there  was  little  need  for  the 
reveille. 

Breakfast  was  soon  over,  and  in  the  gray 
dawn  of  that  murky  morning  the  long  column 
went  trailing  on  its  way.  The  weather  gave 
promise  of  a sloppy  day,  and  the  indications 
were  fully  verified.  A drizzling  rain  set  in,  and 
continued  without  cessation.  The  boys  put  their 
heads  through  the  holes  in  their  ponchos,  from  the 
corners  of  which  the  water  streamed.  With  their 
muskets  at  a “secure”  they  sloshed  along 
through  the  mud,  hour  after  hour.  In  spite  of 
their  “gums”  the  water  found  its  way  in  at  the 
back  of  the  neck  and  trickled  down  |heir  bodies. 
Their  clothes  became  saturated,  and  they  were 
altogether  about  as  miserable  as  it  is  oossible  for 
mortals  to  be. 


122 


SI  KLEGGL 


It  seemed  to  Si  that  the  maximum  of  discom- 
fort had  been  reached.  He  had  experienced  one 
thing  after  another  during  the  few  weeks  since 
he  left  home,  and  he  thought  each  in  turn  was 


worse  than  the  last,  and  about  as  bad  as  it  could 
be.  But  Si  learned  a good  deal  more  before  he 
graduated. 

All  through  the  long,  dreary  day  the  soldiers 
plodded  on.  There  was  little  comfort  to  be  de- 


A WET  NIGHT. 


123 


rived  from  the  “rest,”  for  the  ground  was  soaked 
with  water.  ' 

“Why  didn’t  we  think  of  it,  Shorty,”  said  Si, 
“’n’  make  it  part  o’  the  bargain  when  we  ’listed 
that  we  were  to  have  umbrellers.  These  gum 
things  don’t  amount  to  shucks,  nohow,  to  keep 
the  rain  off.  I sh’d  think  Uncle  Sam  might  do 
that  much  for  us!” 

“I  reckon  our  clothes  ’ll  be  purty  well  washed 
by  the  time  we  git  out  o’  this  mess,”  said  Shorty. 
\ “Feels  that  way,”  said  Si;  “but  how  about  the 
bilin’?  A cold  bath  jest  refreshes  them  pesky 
little  varmints,  ’n’  makes  ’em  livelier  ’n  ever. 
Say,  Shorty,  ye  didn’t  write  home  anything  ’bout 
our  havin’  graybecks,  did  ye?” 

“No,  not  yet;  but  I was  thinkin’  I’d  tell  ’em 
’bout  it  one  o’  these  days.” 

“Well,  don’t,  Shorty;  it ’d  jest  make  my  mother 
feel  awful  to  know  I was  that  way.  And  sister 
Maria,  and — ” 

Si  was  thinking  aloud,  and  was  going  to  say 
“Annabel,”  but  he  checked  himself.  That  name 
was  not  to  be  mentioned  in  other  ears.  But  he 
was  afraid  she  would  go  back  on  him  i!  she  knew 
ell  about  it.  \ 

It  was  nearly  night  when  the  200th  Ind.,  drip- 
ping and  discouraged,  filed  off  into  a field  of  stand- 
ing corn  to  pass  the  night.  The  men  sank  to 
their  shoetops  in  the  soft  earth.  Si  remarked  to 
Shorty  that  he  didn’t  see  why  the  officers  should 


124 


Bl  KLEQO. 


turn  ’em  loose  in  such  a place  as  that.  But  the 
longer  he  lived  the  more  he  found  out  about  those 
things.  That  was  the  way  they  always  did. 

In  five  minutes  after  arms  were  stacked  not  a 
cornstalk  remained  standing  in  the  field.  Dur- 


ing the  afternoon  the  troops  had  gone  over  a 
long  stretch  of  swamp  road  that  was  almost  im- 
passable for  teams.  Fears  were  entertained  that 
the  wagons  of  the  regiment  would  not  be  ub  that 


A WET  NIGHT. 


125 


night,  and  they  would  not  have  their  tents  to 
shelter  them  from  the  storm.  In  anticipation  of 
such  a calamity  the  boys  gathered  in  the  corn- 
stalks, having  a vague  idea  that  they  would  help 
out  in  case  of  emergency. 

Then  there  was  a scramble  for  the  fences, 
Recognizing  the  need  of  good  fuel,  an  order  from 
the  General  was  filtered  through  the  various 
headquarters  that  the  men  might  take  the  top 
rails,  only,  from  the  fence  inclosing  the  field. 
This  order  was  literally  interpreted  and  carried 
out,  each  man,  successively,  taking  the  “top  rail” 
as  he  found  it.  The  very  speedy  result  was  that 
the  bottom  rails  became  the  “top,”  and  then 
there  weren’t  any.  Almost  in  the  twinkling  of 
an  eye  the  entire  fence  disappeared. 

The  drizzle  continued  through  the  evening,  and 
by  the  sputtering  fires  the  soldiers  prepared  and 
ate  their  frugal  suppers.  Word  came  ,that,  as 
was  feared,  the  wagons  were  hopelessly  bemired 
three  or  four  miles  back,  and  the  men  would  have 
to  make  such  shift  as  they  could. 

The  prospect  was  dreary  and  cheerless  enough. 
It  was  little  wonder  that  many  of  t]  young 
Hoosiers  felt  as  if  they  wanted  to  quit  and  go 
home.  But  with  that  wonderful  facility  for  adapt- 
ing themselves  to  circumstances  that  marked 
the  volunteer  soldiers,  they  set  about  the  work 
of  preparing  for  the  night.  No  one  who  has  not 
“been  there”  can  imagine  how  good  a degree  of 


126 


SI  KLEGG. 


comfort — comparatively  speaking,  of  course — it 
was  possible  to  reach,  with  such  surroundings, 
by  the  exercise  of  a little  patience,  ingenuity  and 
industry. 

Si  and  Shorty  and  the  others  of  the  “mess” 
bestirred  themselves,  and  it  did  not  take  them 


more  than  20  minutes  to  build,  out  of  rails  and 
cornstalks,  a shelter  that  was  really  inviting. 


A WET  NIGHT, 


127 


They  kindled  a big  fire  in  front  of  it,  laid  some 
rails  within,  covered  them  with  stalks,  and  on 
these  spread  their  blankets.  Si,  who  had  “boss- 
ed” the  job,  viewed  the  work  with  great  satisfac- 
tion. 

“I  tell  ye,  that’s  no  slouch  of  a shanty!”  said  he. 


128 


SI  KXEGG. 


CHAPTER  Xm. 

SI  “STRAGGLED ” — AND  THE  OTHER  BOYS  MADE  IT 
MIGHTY  LIVELY  FOR  HIM. 

[ One  day  while  Buell  was  chasing  Bragg,  two 
or  three  weeks  after  leaving  Louisville,  the  army 
was  pushing  forward  at  a gait  that  made  the  cav- 
alry ahead  trot  half  the  time  to  keep  out  of  the 
way  of  the  infantry.  The  extraordinary  speed  that 
day  was  due  to  the  fact  that  there  were  no  rebels 
in  sight.  Half  a dozen  ragged  troopers  with  shot- 
guns, a mile  away,  would  have  caused  the  whole 
army  to  halt,  form  line-of-battle,  and  stay  there 
the  rest  of  the  day. 

The  tanned  veterans  didn’t  mind  the  march- 
ing. They  stretched  their  legs  and  went  swing- 
ing along  with  a happy-go-lucky  air,  always  ready 
for  anything  that  might  turn  up.  But  it  was 
rough  on  the  new  troops,  just  from  home.  It 
taxed  their  locomotive  powers  to  the  utmost 
limit. 

The  boys  of  the  200th  Ind.  started  out  Bravely. 
Their  fresh,  clean  faces,  new  uniforms,  and  shiny 
accouterments  contrasted  strongly  with  those  of 
the  weather-beaten  soldiers  of  ’61.  You  could 
tell  a “tenderfoot”  as  far  as  you  could  see  him. 
\ They  trudged  along  in  fair  shape  for  an  hour  or 


SI  STRAGGLED. 


129 


two.  Before  starting  in  the  morning  strict  orders 
had  been  read  to  the  regiment  forbidding  strag- 
gling, for  any  reason,  under  the  most  terrifying 
pains  and  penalties. 

“Them  fellers  that’s  been  in  the  service  long- 
er’n  we  have  think  they’re  smart,”  said  Si  Klegg, 
as  he  and  Shorty  plodded  on,  both  already  a 
little  blown.  “We’ll  show  ’em  that  we  can  hoof 
it  jest  as  fast  as  they  can,  and  jest  as  fur  in  a 
day!” 

“Seems  to  me  we’re  git’n  over  the  ground  purty 
lively  to-day,”  replied  Shorty,  who  was  in  a 
grumbling  mood.  “Wonder  if  the  Gin’ral  thinks 
we’re  hosses!  I’m  a little  short  o’  wind,  and  these 
pesky  gunboats  are  scrapin’  the  bark  off’n  my 
feet;  but  I’ll  keep  up  or  bust.” 

Though  the  spirit  of  these  young  patriots  was 
willing,  the  flesh  was  wTeak.  It  wasn’t  long  till 
Si  began  to  limp.  Now  and  then  a groan  es- 
caped his  lips  as  a fresh  blister  “broke.”  But  Si 
clinched  his  teeth,  humped  his  back  to  ease  his 
shoulders  from  the  weight  of  his  knapsack, 
screwed  up  his  courage*  and  tramped  on  over  the 
stony  pike.  He  thought  the  breathing  spells 
were  very  short  and  a long  way  apart. 

Si’s  knapsack  had  experienced  the  universal 
shrinkage,  as  told  in  a previous  chapter  of  out 
hero’s  martial  career.  He  still  had.  however,  a 
good  many  things  that  he  thought  he  couldn’t 

2K 


81  KLEGG  DEFIES  A REGIMENT  OF  ILLINOIS 


SI  STRAGGLED.  131 

spare,  But  which  he  found  later  he  could  very 
well  get  along  without. 

By  noon  the  200th  began  to  show  signs  of  go- 
ing to  pieces.  The  column  stretched  out  longer 
and  longer,  like  a piece  of  India-rubber.  The 
ranks  looked  thin  and  ragged.  Lame  and  foot- 
sore, with  wo-begone  faces,  their  bodies  aching 
m every  bone  and  tendon,  and  overcome  with  a 
weariness  that  no  one  can  realize  unless  he  has 
“been  there,”  the  men  dropped  out  one  by  one 
and  threw  themselves  into  the  fence-corners  to 
rest.  The  officers  stormed  and  drew  their  swords 
in  vain.  Nature — that  is,  the  nature  of  a new 
soldier — could  endure  no  more.  The  ambulances 
were  filled  to  their  utmost,  but  these  would  not 
hold  a twentieth  part  of  the  crippled  and  suffer- 
ing men. 

“How’re  ye  gittin’  on,  Shorty?”  said  Si,  as  he 
and  his  comrade  still  struggled  along. 

'“Fair  to  middling”  replied  Shorty.  “I’m  goin’ 
to  try  and  pull  through!” 

“I  thought  I could,”  said  Si,  “but  I’m  ’bout 
played  out!  I am,  fer  a fact!  I guess  ef  I rest  a 
bit  I’ll  be  able  to  ketch  up  after  a while.” 

Si  didn’t  know  till  he  found  out  by  experi* 
ence  how  hard  it  was  to  “ketch  up”  when  a sol- 
dier once  got  behind  on  the  march.  Si  was  too 
fat  for  a good  roadster,  but  it  didn’t  take  a great 
while  to  work  off  his  surgkas  flesh.  Shorty  was 


r 


tall  and  slim,  mostly  bone — one  of  the  sort  that 
always  stood  the  marching  best. 

Si  crept  up  to  the  Orderly  and  told  him  that  he 
would  have  to  stop  and  puff  a while  and  give  his 
blisters  a rest.  He’d  pull  up  with  Co.  Q in  an 
hour  or  so. 

“Better  not,  Si!”  said  the  Orderly;  “ye  know  it’s 
agin  orders,  and  the  rear-guard  ’ll  punch  ye  with 
their  bay’nets  if  they  catch  ye  stragglin’.” 

But  Si  concluded  th^at  if  he  must  die  for  his 
country  it  would  be  sweeter  to  do  so  by  having 
a bayonet  inserted  in  his  vitals,  and  then  it  would 
be  all  over  with  at  once,  than  to  walk  himself  to 
death. 

50  he  gradually  fell  back  till  he  reached  the 
tail  of  the  company.  Watching  his  opportunity, 
he  left  the  ranks,  crept  into  a clump  of  bushes, 
and  lay  down,  feeling  as  if  he  had  been  run 
through  a grist-mill.  Soon  the  rear-guard  of  the 
200th  came  along,  with  fixed  bayonets,  driving 
before  them  like  a flock  of  frightened  sheep  a 
motley  crowd  of  limping,  groaning  men,  gatherd 
up  by  the  roadside. 

51  lay  very  still,  hoping  to  escape  discovery; 
but  the  keen  eye  of  the  officer  detected  the  blue 
heap  among  the  oushes. 

“Bring  that  man  out!*  said  he  sternly  to  one  of 
the  guards* 

Poor  Si  scarcely  dare  to  breathe.  He  hoped 
the  man  would  think  he  was  dead,  and  therefore 


SI  STRAGGLED. 


133 


no  longer  of  any  account.  But  the  soldier  Began 
to  prod  him  with  his  bayonet,  ordering  him  to  get 
up  and  move  on. 

“Look-a-here,  pard,”  said  Si,  “don’t  stab  me 
with  that  thing!  I jest  can’t  git  along  any  furder 


till  I blow  a little.  You  please  lemme  be,  an’  I*U 
do  as  much  for  you.  Pr’haps  some  time  you’ll 
get  played  out  and  I’ll  be  on  the  rear-guard  T&* 
Cap’n  ’ll  tell  me  ter  fotch  ye  ’long,  an’  P|J  W&i  let 
ye  rest,  so  I will!” 

^This  view  of  the  case  struck  the  guard  wsatti 


134 


SI  KLEGrQ. 


some  force.  Moved  with  compassion,  he  turned 
away,  leaving  Si  to  enjoy  his  rest. 

Si  threw  aside  his  traps,  took  off  his  shoes  and 
stockings,  and  bathed  his  feet  with  water  from 
his  canteen.  He  ate  a couple  of  hardtack,  and 
in  the  course  of  half  an  hour  began  to  feel  more 
like  Si  Klegg.  He  geared  himself  up,  shouldered 
his  gun,  and  started  to  ‘‘ketch  up.” 

All  this  time  the  stream  of  troops — regiments, 
brigades  and  divisions — had  flowed  on.  Of  course, 
soldiers  who  were  with  their  colors  had  the  right 
of  way,  and  the  stragglers  were  obliged  to  stumble 
along  as  best  they  could,  over  the  logs  and  through 
the  bushes  at  the  sides  of  the  roads  or  skirt 
along  the  edges  of  the  fields  and  woods  adjoining. 
It  was  this  fact  added  to  their  exhausted  and 
crippled  condition,  that  made  it  almost  impos- 
sible for  stragglers  to  overtake  their  regiments 
until  they  halted  for  the  night.  Even  then  it 
Wits  ofte,n  midnight  before  the  last  of  the  way- 
farers, weary  and  worn,  dragged  their  aching 
limbs  into  camp. 

Si  started  forward  briskly,  but  soon  found  it  was 
no  easy  matter  to  gain  the  mile  or  so  that  the 
200th  ind.  was  now  ahead  of  him.  It  was  about 
all  he  could  do  to  keep  up  with  the  fast-moving 
column  and  avoid  falling  still  further  to  the  rear. 
Presently  th©  bugles  sounded  a halt  for  one  of 
the  hourj^  *ests. 

“Now/’  said  2i  to  himself,  “Fll  have  a good 


SI  STRAGGLED 


135 


chance  to  git  along  tor’d  the  front.  The  soljers 
’ll  all  lie  down  in  the  fence  corners  an’  leave  the 
Toad  clear.  I’ll  jest  git  ug  an’  dust!” 


LAID  UP  FOR  REP4JR& 

The  sound  of  the  bugles  had  scarcely  died  *w<>r 
when  the  pike  was  deserted,  and  oil  eithei  sitLs, 
as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  the  prostrated  rse» 
that  covered  the  ground  mingled  in  a long  fringe 
of  blue. 

Si  got  up  into  the  road  and  started  along  the 
lane  between  these  lines  of  recumbent  soldiers. 

His  gait  was  a little  shaky,  for  the  blisters  on 


136 


BI  KLEGG. 


his  feet  began  to  give  evidence  of  renewed  ac- 
tivity. He  trudged  pluckilv  along,  limping  some 
in  spite  of  himself,  but  on  the  wholft  maldng  very 
good  headway. 

Pretty  soon  he  struck  a veteran  regiment  from 
Illinois,  the  members  of  which  were  sitting  and 
lying  around  in  all  the  picturesque  and  indescrib- 
able postures  which  the  old  soldiers  found  gave 
them  the  greatest  comfort  during  a “rest.”  Then 
the  fun  commenced — that  is,  it  was  great  sport 
for  the  Sucker  boys,  though  Si  did  not  readily 
appreciate  the  humorous  features  of  the  scene. 

“What  rigiment  is  this?”  asked  Si,  timidly. 

“Same  old  rijiment!”  was  the  answer  from  half 
a dozen  at  once.  A single  glance  told  the 
swarthy  veterans  that  the  fresh-looking  youth 
who  asked  this  conundrum  belonged  to  one  of 
the  new  regiments,  and  they  immediately  opened 
their  batteries  upon  him: 

“Left— left— left!” 

“ Hayfoot  — strawfoot ! Hayfoot  — strawfoot ! ” 
keeping  time  with  Si's  somewhat  irregular  steps. 

“Hello,  there,  you!  Change  step  and  you’ll  march 
easier!” 

“Look  at  that  ’ere  poor  feller;  the  only  man  left 
alive  of  his  rijiment!  Great  Cesar,  how  they 
must  have  suffered!  Say,  what  rijiment  did  you 
fc’long  to?” 

“Paymaster’s  cornin’,  boys;  here’s  a chap  with 
a pay-roll  round  his  neck!”  Si  had  put  on  that 


SI  STRAGGLED.  137 

morning  the  last  of  the  paper  collars  he  had 
brought  from  home. 

“You’d  better  shed  that  knapsack,  or  it’ll  be 
the  death  of  ye!” 

“I  say,  there,  how’s  all  the  folks  to  home?” 

“How  d’ye  like  it  as  far  as  you’ve  got,  any 
way?” 

“Git  some  commissary  and  pour  into  them  gun- 
boats!” 

“Second  relief’s  come, boys;  we  can  all  go  home 
now.” 

“Grab  a root!” 

“Hep— hep— hep !” 

“How’d  ye  leave  Mary  Ann?” 

Si  had  never  been  under  such  a fire  befoie. 
He  stood  it  as  long  as  he  could,  and  then  he 
stopped. 

“Halt!”  shouted  a chorus  of  voices.  “Shoul- 
der-Arms!” “Order — Arms!” 

By  this  time  Si’s  wrath  was  at  the  boiling 
point.  Casting  around  him  a look  of  defiance, 
he  exclaimed: 

“You  cowardly  blaggards;  I can  jest  lick  any 
two  of  ye,  an’  I’ll  dare  ye  to  come  on.  If  the  200th 
Ind.  was  here  we’d  clean  out  the  hull  pack 
of  ye  quicker’n  ye  can  say  scat!” 

This  is  where  Si  made  a mistake.  He  ought 
to  have  kept  right  on  and  said  nothing.  But  Si 
had  to  find  out  all  these  things  by  experience,  as 
the  rest  of  the  boys  did> 


138 


81  KLEOG. 


All  the  members  of  the  regiment  now  took  a 
hand  in  the  game.  They  just  got  right  up  and 
yelled,  discharging  at  Si  a volley  of  expletives 
and  pointed  remarks  that  drove  him  to  despera- 
tion. Instinctively  he  brought  up  his  gun. 

“Load  in  nine  times — Load!”  shouted  a dozen 
of  the  Illinois  tramps. 

If  Si’s  gun  had  been  loaded  he  would  have  shot 
somebody,  regardless  of  consequences.  Think- 
ing of  his  bayonet,  he  jerked  it  quickly  from  its 
scabbard. 

“Fix — Bay’net!”  yelled  the  ragged  veterans. 

And  he  did,  though  it  was  more  from  the  prompt- 
ings of  his  own  hostile  feelings  than  in  obedience 
to  the  orders. 

“Charge — Bay’netT” 

Si  had  completely  lost  control  of  himself  in 
his  overpowering  rage.  With  blood  in  his  eye, 
he  came  to  a charge,  glancing  fiercely  from  one 
side  of  the  road  to  the  other,  uncertain  where  to 
begin  the  assault. 

Instantly  there  was  a loud  clicking  all  along 
the  line.  The  Illinois  soldiers,  almost  to  a man, 
fbied  their  bayonets.  Half  of  them  sprang  to 
their  feet,  and  all  aimed  their  shining  points  at 
the  poor  little  Hoosier  patriot,  filling  the  air  with 
shouts  of  derision. 

it  was  plain,  even  to  Si  in  his  inflamed  state 
of  mind,  that  the  odds  against  him  were  too 
heavy# 


SI  STRAGGLED* 


139 


“Unfix — Bay’net!”  came  from  half  the  regiment. 
Si  concluded  he  had  better  get  out  of  a bad 
scrape  the  best  way  he  could.  So  he  took  off  his 
bayonet  and  put  it  back  in  its  place.  He  shouted 
words  of  defiance  to  his  tormentors,  but  they 
could  not  be  heard  in  the  din. 

“Shoulder — Arms!”  “Right — Face!”  “Right 

shoulder  shift — Arms!”  “Forward — March!” 

These  commands  came  in  quick  succession 
from  the  ranks  amidst  roars  of  laughter 
Si  obeyed  the  orders  and  started  off. 

“Left— left— left!” 

“Hayfoot — strawfoot!”  1 

Forgetting  his  blisters,  Si  took  the  double-quick, 
while  the  mob  swung  their  caps  and  howled  with 
delight. 

Si  didn’t  “ketch  up”  with  the  200th  Ind.  until 
after  it  had  gone  into  camp.  Shorty  had  a quart 
of  hot  coffee  waiting  for  him. 

“Shorty,”  said  Si,  as  they  sat  by  the  fire, 
“I’m  goin’  to  drop  dead  in  my  tracks  before  I’ll 
fall  out  again.”  4 v * 

“Why,  what’s  the  matter?” 

“Oh,  nothin’;  only  you  jest  try  it,”  said  Si. 

Had  it  not  been  for  the  “fun”  the  soldiers  had 
in  the  army  to  brighten  their  otherwise  dark  and 
cheerless  lives,  they  would  all  have  died.  Si  was 
a true  type  of  those  who  had  to  suffer  for  the  good 
of  others  until  they  learned  wisdom  in  the  school 
of  experience. 


140 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


SI  AND  THE  MULES— ONE  DAY’S  RICH  EXPEDIENCE  AS 
COMPANY  TEAMSTER. 

“I’ve  got  to  have  a man  to  drive  te£tn  for  a few 
days,”  said  the  Orderly  of  Co.  Q of  the  200th  hid. 
one  morning  at  roll-call.  “The  teamster’s  sick 
and  I’m  goin’  to  send  him  to  the  hospital  to-day.” 

The  Orderly-Sergeant  of  Co.  Q was  a wily  fel- 
low. All  Orderly-Sergeants  have  to  be.  If  they 
are  not  naturally,  they  learn  it  very  quickly,  or 
lose  the  little  diamond  on  their  sleeves,  if  not  all 
their  stripes.  The  man  who  undertakes  to 
manage  60  or  75  stalwart,  high-spirited  young 
Americans  through  all  their  moods  and  tenses, 
and  every  kind  of  weather,  has  to  be  as  wise  as  a 
serpent,  though  not  necessarily  as  harmless  as 
a dove.  Therefore,  the  Orderly-Sergeant  didn’t 
tell  the  boys  what  ailed  the  teamster.  The  fact 
waa  that  the  heels  of  the  “off-wheeler”  caught 
the  teamster  m the  pit  of  the  stomach  and 
doubled  him  up  so  badly  that  he  wouldn’t  be  fit 
k*  duty  for  a week.  It  was  worse  than  the  green* 
corn  colic. 

“’T  isn’t  every  man,”  continued  the  Orderly, 
“that’s  gilteri  rKtn  fust-class  talent  fur  drivin> 
team.  I’d  lik«  to  find  the  best  man  to  steer  them 


SI  AND  THE  MULES. 


no 


141 

animals,'  an’  if  there’s  a real  sientifick  mule- 
whacker  in  this  comp’ny  let  him  speak  up,  an’ 
I’ll  detail  him  right  off.  It’ll  be  a soft  thing  fur 
somebody;  them  mules  are  daisies!” 

Somehow  they  didn’t  all  speak  at  once.  The 
company  had  only  had  the  team  two  or  three 
weeks,  put  the  boys  were  not  dull  of  hearing, 
and  omihous  sounds  had  come  to  them  from  the 
rear  of  the  camp  at  all  hours  of  the  night — the 
maddening  “Yee-haw  w-w!”  of  the  long-eared 
brutes,  and  the  frantic  ejaculations  of  the  team- 
ster, spiced  with  oaths  that  would  have  sent  a 
shudder  through  “our  army  in  Flanders.” 

So  they  did  not  apply  for  the  vacant  saddle 
with  that  alacrity  which  might  have  been  ex- 
pected, when  so  good  a chance  was  offered  for  a 
soldier  to  ride  and  get  his  traps  carried  on  a wagon. 
Whenever  an  infantryman  threw  away  such  an 
opportunity  it  is  safe  to  assume  that  there  was 
some  gdod  reason  for  it. 

But  the  idea  of  riding  for  a few  days  and  let- 
ting his  blisters  get  well  was  too  much  for  Si 
Klegg.  Besides,  he  thought  ii  there  was  any  one 
thing  he  could  do  better  than  another  it  was  driv- 
ing c team.  He  had  been  doing  it  on  his  father’s 
farm  all  his  life.  It  is  true,  he  didn’t  know  much 
about  mutes,  but  he  imagined  they  wer*  * £oo<§ 
deal  like  horses. 

“1’m  your  man!”  spoke  up  Si  eneertullj'« 


142 


SI  KLEOa 


“All  right!”  said  tlie  Orderly.  “Company,  Right 
— Face!  Break  ranks — March!” 

“There  ain’t  any  trouble  about  it!”  Si  said  to 
Shorty  as  they  walked  back  to  the  tent.  “I  reckon 
it’s  easy  enough  to  manage  mules  if  you  go  at 
’em  right.  It’ll  be  just  fun  for  me  to  drive  team. 
And  say,  Shorty,  I’ll  carry  all  your  traps  on  my 
wagon.  That’ll  be  a heap  better’n  totin’  ’em!” 

Si  gathered  up  his  outfit  and  started  to  enter 
upon  his  new  sphere  of  usefulness. 

“Shall  I take  my  gun  and  bay’net  along”  he 
asked  the  Orderly.  I 

“Guess  you’d  better;  they  might  come  handy!” 
replied  the  Orderly,  as  he  thought  of  the  team- 
ster’s disastrous  encounter  with  the  “off-wheeler.” 
After  Shorty  had  eaten  his  breakfast  he  thought 
he  would  go  back  of  the  tent  and  see  how  Si  was 
getting  on.  With  thoughtful  care  Si  had  fed  his 
mules  before  appeasing  his  own  appetite,  and 
Shorty  found  him  just  waiting  for  his  coffee  to 
cool  a bit. 

“Why,  them  ’ere  mules  is  jist  as  gentle’n’ 
peaceful-like  ez  so  many  kittens.  Look  at  ’em, 
Shorty!”  and  Si  pointed  with  a proud  and  grati- 
fied air  to  where  the  six  “daisies”  were  standing, 
three  on  each  side  of  the  wagon-pole,  with  their 
noses  in  the  feed-box,  quietly  munching  their 
matutinal  rations,  and  whisking  their  paint-brush 
tails  ab^ut  in  evident  enjoyment. 


SI  AND  THE  MULES. 


143 


Indeed,  to  look  at  those  mules  one  who  was 
ignorant  of  the  peculiar  characteristics  of  the 
species  would  not  have  thought  that  be- 
neath those  meek  exteriors  there  were  hearts 
filled  with  the  raging  fires  of  total  depravity. 
Shorty  thought  how  it  would  be,  but  he  didn’t 
say  anything.  He  was  sure  that  Si  would  find 
out  about  it  soon  enough. 

The  brigade  to  which  the  200th  Ind.  belonged 
was  to  march  in  the  rear  of  the  long  procession 
that  day.  This  was  lucky  for  Si,  as  it  gave  him 
an  hour  or  two  more  than  he  would  otherwise 
have  had  to  get  hitched  up.  But  all  the  same 
he  thought  he  would  begin  early,  so  as  to  be  on 
hand  with  his  team  in  good  time. 

“Want  ajiy  help?”  asked  Shorty. 

“No,”  said  Si;  “I  can  hitch  ’em  up  slick’s  a 
whistlp.  can’t  see  why  so  many  makes  sich 
a fuss  ’bout  handlin’  mules.” 

Shorty  ighted  his  cob  pipe  and  sat  down  on 
a stump  to  watch  Si.  “Kinder  think  there’ll  be 
a circus!”  he  said  to  himself. 

Si  got  rip. from  his  coffee  and  hardtack,  and  ad- 
dressed himself  to  the  business  of  the  houi.  I* 
proved  to  be  just  as  much  as  he  could  attend  to* 
When  Si  poured  half  a bushel  of  corn  into  the 
feed-box  it  was  all  very  nice,  and  the  animals 
rubbed  their  heads  against  him  to  give  expres- 
sion to  their  grateful  emotions.  But  when  it 
C autre  to  putting  on  the  tW* 


144 


SI  KLEGG. 


a different  thing.  The  mere  touch  of  a strap  was 
enough  to  stimulate  into  baleful  activity  all  the 
evil  passions  of  mule-nature. 

“Now,  Pete  and  Jim  and  Susan,  we  must  git 
ready  to  pull  out!”  said  Si  to  his  charge,  in  a 
familiar,  soothing  tone,  preliminary  to  getting 
down  to  business.  It  was  his  evident  desire  to 
maintain  the  friendly  relations  that  he  thought 
he  had  already  established.  At  the  first  rattle  of 
the  harness  Pete  and  Susan  and  the  rest,  moved 
by  a common  impulse,  laid  back  their  ears  and 
began  to  bray,  their  heels  at  the  saija^  time  show- 
ing symptoms  of  impatience. 

“Whoa,  there — whoa!”  exclaimed  Si,  in  a con- 
ciliatory way,  as  he  advanced  with  a bridle  in  his 
hand  toward  one  of  the  big  wheelers,  whose  ears 
were  flapping  about  like  the  fans  of  a windmill. 

Si  imprudently  crept  up  from  the  rear.  A flank 
movement  would  have  been  better.  As  soon  as 
he  had  gcxt  fairly  within  range  the  mule  winked 
viciously,  lowered  his  head,  and  let  fly  both 
heels.  Si  was  a spry  boy,  and  a quick  dodge 
saved  him  from  the  fate  of  his  predecessor.  One 
of  the  heels  whizzed  past  his  ear  with  the  speed 
a cannon  ball,  caught  his  hat,  and  sent  it 
Spinning  through  the  air. 

Shorty,  who  was  whittling  up  a piece  of  Ken- 
tucky twdst  to  recharge  his  pipe,  laughed  till  he 
rolled  off  the  stump  all  in  a heap.  A few  of  the 
otlier  boys  had  stayed  out  to  see  the  fun:  and 


l 'V 

SI  AND  THE  MULES.  , 145 

were  lounging  around  the  outskirts  of  tlic  corral. 
“Go  for  ’em,  Si!”  they  shouted. 


A CLOSE  SH^VJSj 

Si  was  plucky,  and  again.  advanced  with  more 
caution.  This  time  he  was  successful,  after  a 
spirited  engagement,  in  getting  the  bridle  on.  He 
thought  he  would  ride  him  down  to  the  creek 
for  water,  and  this  would  give  him  a chance  to 
get  acquainted  with  him,  as  it  were.  He  gatted 


14G 


SI  KLEGG. 


the  animal’s  neck,  called  him  pet  names,  and 
gently  stroked  his  stubbly  mane.  Alas,  Si  didn’t 
know  then  what  an  utter  waste  of  material  it  was 
to  give  taffy  to  an  army  mule. 

With  a quick  spring  Si  vaulted  upon  the  back 
oi  the  mule  He  started  off  in  good  shape,  wav- 
ing his  hand  exultingly  to  the  boys  with  the  air 
of  a General  who  has  just  won  a great  battle. 

All  at  once  the  animal  stopped  as  suddenly  as 
if  he  had  run  against  a stone  wall.  He  planted 
his  fore  feet,  throwing  his  ears  back  and  his  head 
down.  There  was  a simultaneous  rear  elevation, 
with  the  heels  at  an  upward  angle  of  about  45  de- 
grees. Si  went  sprawling  among  the  bushes. 
This  performance  was  greeted  with  great  en- 
thusiasm by  the  fast-increasing  crowd  of  specta- 
tors. 

“I  oughter  have  told  you  that  saddle-mule’s  the 
worst  bucker  in  the  Army  o’  the  Ohio,”  said 
the  Quartermaster-Sergeant,  who  was  among  the 
on-lookers.  “Why,  h*’d  buck  off  the  stripe  that 
runs  down  his  back,  ft  he  took  it  into  his  measly 
head.  He  bucked  off  a chaiile  mortgage,  and 
that’s  the  way  he  come  into  the  army.  You  can’t 
him  without  using  one  of  Aunt  Jemima’s 
sticking  plasters.' * 

"Much  obliged  for  your  information.  But  I will 
ride  him  all  the  same,”  said  Si,  whose  temper  had 
risen  to  the  exploding  point.  “I  kin  ride  him  if 
he  ties  himself  in  a double  bow-knot.” 


SI  AND  THE  MULES.  147 

Si  was  too  much  of  a farmer  boy  to  give  in  to 
anything  that  walked  on  four  legs. 

He  had  hung  on  to  the  bridle-rein,  and  after 
addressing  a few  impressive  words  to  the  ob- 
streperous mule  he  again  leaped  upon  his  back. 
The  mule  took  a docile  turn,  his  motive  having 
apparently  been  merely  to  show  Si  what  he  could 
do  when  he  took  a notion. 

The  space  at  command  will  not  permit  us  to 
follow  Si  through  all  the  details  of  “hitching  up” 
that  team.  He  did  finally  “git  thar,  Eli,”  after 
much  strategic  effort.  The  mules  brayed  and 
kicked  a good  deal,  and  Si’s  wrath  was  fully 
aroused  before  he  got  through.  He  became  con- 
vinced that  soft  words  were  of  no  account  in  such 
a contest,  and  he  enforced  discipline  by  the  judi- 
cious use  of  a big  club,  together  with  such  ap- 
priate  language  as  he  could  think  of.  Si  hadn’t 
yet  learned  to  swear  with  that  wonderful  and 
appalling  proficiency  that  was  so  soon  acquired 
by  the  army  teamsters.  In  the  management  of 
mules  profanity  was  considered  an  invaluable  ac- 
cessory in  times  of  great  emergency. 

At  last  Si  climbed  into  the  saddle,  as  proud  as 
a King.  Seizing  the  long,  single  line  running  to 
the  “leaders”— by  which  contrivance  the  army 
team  was  always  guided — he  shouted  “Git  up,  thary 
Pete!  G’lang  Susan!”  and  the  caravan  started. 
But  the  unregenerated  brutes  didn’t  go  far. 
Si  was  gaily  cracking  his  whip,  trying  to  hit  a 


148 


ST  KLEGG 


1 blur  bottle  fl\  that  was  [Arched  on  the  ear 
i’i  the  “swing’'  mules. 

As  if  by  a preconcerted  plan,  the  establishment 
v me  to  a sudden  halt  and  the  mules  began  to 
it  or  and  kick  and  plunge  around  in  utter  disre- 
i ; rd  of  consequences.  It  didn’t  take  more  than 
a minute  for  them  to  get  into  a hopeless  tangle. 
They  were  in  all  conceivable  shapes — heads  and 
tails  together,  crosswdse  and  “every  which  way,” 
tied  up  with  the  straps  of  the  harness.  The  air 
in  all  directions  was  full  of  heels.  . There  was  a 
maddening  chorus  of  discordant  braying. 

In  the  course  of  the  scrimmage  Si  found  him- 
self on  the  ground.  Gathering  himself  up,  he 
gazed  in  utter  amazement  at  the  twisted,  writh- 
ing mass.  At  this  moment  a messenger  came 
from  the  Captain  to  “hurry  up  that  team,”  and 
poor  Si  didn’t  know  what  to  do.  He  wished  he 
could  only  swear  like  the  old  mule  drivers.  He 
thought  it  would  make  him  feel  better.  There 
was  no  one  to  help  him  out  of  his  dilemma,  as 
the  members  of  the  company  were  all  getting 
ready  for  the  march. 

A veteran  teamster  happened  along  that  way, 
and  took  in  the  situation  at  a glance.  He  saw 
that  Si  had  bit  off  more  than  he  could  chew,  and 
volunteered  his  assistance. 

“Here,  young  feller,”  said  he,  “lemme  show  ye 
how7  to  take  the  stiffenin’ out  o’  them  ere  dod- 
gasted  mules V* 


til  AND  THE  MULES. 


149 


Raizing  th  tip  at  the  email  enr!  of  the  stock 
he  began  laying  on  .right  and  left  Avith  the  butt, 
taking  care  to  keep  out  of  range  of  the  heels. 
During  these  persuasive  efforts  he  was  shouting 
at  the  top  of  his  voice  words  that  fairly  hissed 


through  the  air.  Si  thought  he  could  smell  the 
brimstone  and  see  the  smoke  issuing  from  the 
old  teamster’s  mouth  and  nostrils.  This  is  a 
section  of  what  that  experienced  muie-driver 
said,  as  nearly  as  we  can  express  it: 


150 


SI  KLEGG. 


?? !!!***???  ,J  ! M 

? ? ? ?'??!!!!” 

Si  thanked  the  veteran  for  these  timely  sug- 
gestions in  the  way  of  language,  and  said  he 
would  remember  them.  He  had  no  doubt  they 
would  help  him  out  the  next  time. 

They  finally  got  the  team  untied,  and  Si  drove 
over  to  the  company  ground.  The  regiment  had 
been  gone  some  time,  a detail  having  been  left 
to  load  the  wagon.  After  getting  out  upon  the 
road  the  mules  plodded  along  without  objection, 
and  Si  got  on  famously.  But  having  lost  his 
place  in  the  column  in  consequence  of  the  delay, 
he  was  obliged  to  fall  in  rear  of  the  division  train, 
and  it  was  noon  before  he  got  well  started. 

Along  towards  evening  Si  struck  a section  of 
old  corduroy  road  through  a piece  of  swamp. 
The  passage  of  the  artillery  and  wagons  had  left 
the  road  in  a wretched  condition.  The  logs  were 
lying  at  all  points  of  the  compass,  or  drifting 
vaguely  about  in  the  rpire,  while  here  and  there 
were  seas  of  watejr  and  pits  of  abysmal  depth. 

To  make  the  story  short,  Si’s  mules  stumbled 
and  floundered  aud  kicked,  while  Si  laid  on  with 
the  whip  and  used  some  of  the  words  he  had 
learned  from  the  old  teamster  before  starting. 

At  length  the  wagon  became  hopelessly  stalled. 
The  wheels  sank  to  the  hubs,  and  Si  yelled  and 
cracked  his  whip  in  vain.  Perhaps  if  he  had  had 


*1  AND  THE  MULES.  151 

the  old  teamster  there  to  swear  for  him  he  could 
have  pulled  through,  but  as  it  was  he  gave  it  up, 
dismounted,  hunted  a dry  spot,  and  <*at  down 
to  think  and  wait  for  something  to  turn  up. 

Just  before  dark  a large  detail  from  Co.  Q, 
which  had  been  sent  back  on  an  exploring  ex- 
pedition for  Si  and  his  team,  reached  the  spot. 
After  hours  of  prying  and  pushing  and  tugging 
and  yelling  they  at  length  got  the  wagon  over  the 
slough,  reaching  camp  about  midnight. 

“Orderly,”  said  Si,  “1  believe  I’d  like  to  resign 
my  place  as  mule-driver.  It’s  a nice,  soft  thing, 
but  Pd  jest  as  lief  let  s ’mother  feller  have  it,  so 
I’ll  take  my  gun  an7  go  to  hoofin’  it  agin!” 


152 


181  KLEGG. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

i 

UNDER  FIRE— SI  HAS  A FIGHT,  CAPTURES  A PRISONER, 
, AND  GETS  PROMOTED. 

i " ■ 

“Seems  to  me  it’s  ’bout  time  ter  be  gittin’  into 
a fife!”  said  Si  Klegg  to  Shorty  one  night  as  they 
sat  around  the  fire  after  supper,  with  their  shoes 
and  stockings  off,  comparing  the  size  and  num- 
ber of  their  respective  blisters.  Neither  of  them 
had  much  of  the  skin  they  started  out  with  left 
on  their  feet.  “I  always  s’posed,”  he  continued, 
“that  bein’  a soljer  meant  filin’  somebody:  and 
here  we  are  roaming  over  the  country  like  a lot  of 
tramps.  I can’t  see  m good  in  it,  nohow.” 

“Don’t  be  in  a hurry,  Si,”  replied  Shorty;  “I 
reckon  we’ll  ke^eh  it  soon  ’nuff.  From  what  I’ve 
hearn  the  old  soldiers  tell  a battle  ain’t  such  a 
funny  Miing  as  a felier  thinks  who  don’t  know 
anything  about  it,  like  you’n  ’ me.  . The  boys  is 
always  hungry  at  first  for  shootin’  and  bein’ 
shot  Hi,  but  I’ve  an  idee  that  it  sorter  takes  away 
iheir  appetite  when  they  gits  one  square  .meal  of 
:t.  They  don’t  hanker  after  it  no  i/iore.  It’s 
likely  we’ll  git  filled  full  one  o’  these  days!  I’m 
willin’  to  wait!” 

“’Wall,”  said  Si,  “I  sh’d  think  we  might  have 


UNDER  FIRE. 


a little  skirmish,  anyway.  Fd  like  to  have  a 
chance  to  try  my  gun  and  to  hear  what  kind  of  a 
noise  bullets  make.  Of  course,  Fd  ruther  they’d 
hit  some  other  feller  besides  me,  but  Fm  ready 
to  take  the  chances  on  that.  I don’t  b’lieve  Fd 
be  afeard.” 

Si  was  ambitious,  and  full  of  the  martial  ardor 
that  blazed  in  the  breast  of  every  young  volunteer. 
He  was  really  glad  when  the  Orderly  came 
around  presently  and  told  them  that  the  20Cfch 
Ind.  would  have  the  advance  next  day,  and  Co. 
Q would  be  on  the  skirmish-line.  He  told  the 
boys  to  see  that  their  cartridge-boxes  were  all 
full  and  their  guns  in  good  order,  as  they  would 
be  very  likely  to  lun  foul  of  the  rebels. 

This  was  just  before  the  battle  of  Perryville. 
The  rebels  were  very  saucy,  and  there  seemed 
to  be  a fair  prospect  that  the  curiosity  of  the 
members  of  the  200th  Ind.  to  “see  the  elephant” 
would  be  at  least  measurably  gratified. 

Before  Si  went  to  bed  he  cleaned  up  his  gun 
and  made  sure  that  it  would  “goofi”  whenever  he 
wanted  it  to.  Then  he  and  Shorty  crawled  under 
the  blankets,  and  as  they  lay  “spoon  fashion,” 
thinking  about  what  might  happen  the  next  day, 
Si  said  he  hoped  they  would  both  have  “lots 
sand.” 

All  night  Si  was  dreaming  about  awful  scenes 
of  slaughter.  Before  morning  he  had  destroyed 
a large  part  of  the  Confederate  army. 


SI  KLEGG. 


154 


It  was  yet  dark  when  the  reveille  sounded 
through  the  camp.  Si  and  Shorty  kicked  off  the 
blankets  at  first  blast  of  bugle,  and  were  prompt- 
ly in  their  places  for  roll-call.  Then,  almost  in  a 
moment,  a hundred  fires  were  gleaming,  and  the 
soldiers  gathered  around  them  to  prepare  th  ir 
hasty  breakfast. 

Before  the  sun  was  up  the  bugles  rang  out 
again  upon  the  morning  air.  In  quick  succession 
came  the  "general,”  the  "assembly,”  and  "to  the 
colors.”  The  200th  marched  out  upon  the  pike, 
but  soon  filed  off  into  a cornfield  to  take  its  as- 
signed place  in  the  line,  for  the  advance  division 
was  to  move  in  order  of  battle,  brigade  front,  that 
day. 

In  obedience  to  orders,  Co.  Q moved  briskly 
oat  and  deployed  as  skirmishers,  covering  the 
regimental  front.  As  the  line  advanced  through 
field  and  thicket  Si  Klegg’s  heart  was  not  the 
only  one  that  thumped  against  the  blouse  that 
covered  it. 

It  wa3  not  long  till  a squad  of  cavalrymen 
came  galloping  back,  yelling  that  the  rebels  were 
just  ahead.  The  line  was  halted  for  a few  min- 
utes, while  the  Generals  swept  the  surrounding 
country  with  their  field  glasses  and  took  in  the 
situation. 

The  skirmishers,  for  fear  of  accidents,  took 
advantage  ol  such  cover  as  they  could  find.  Si 


UNDER  FIRE. 


155 


and  Shorty  found  themselves  to  leeward  of  a 
large  stump. 


AS  UNWELCOME  VISITOR. 


“D’ye  reckon  a bullet  ’d  go  through  this  yer© 
stump?”  said  Si. 


156 


SI  KLEGG. 


Before  Shorty  could  answer  something  else 
happened  that  absorded  their  entire  attention. 
For  the  time  they  didn’t  think  of  anything  else. 

Boom-m-m-m ! 

“Great  Scott!  d’ye  hear  that?”  said  Si  through 
iiis  chattering  teeth. 

“Yes,  and  there’s  somethin’  cornin’  over  this 
way,”  replied  Shorty.  1 

A shell  came  screaming  and  swishing  through 
the  air.  The  young  Hoosiers  curled  around  the 
roots  of  that  stump  and  flattened  themselves  out 
like  a pair  of  griddle-cakes.  If  it  was  Si 
that  the  rebel  gunners  were  after,  they  timed  the 
shell  to  a second,  for  it  burst  with  a loud  bang 
just  over  them.  The  fragments  flew  all  around, 
one  striking  the  stump  and  others  tearing  up  the 
dirt  on  every  side. 

To  say  that  for  the  moment  those  two  soldiers 
were  demoralized  would  be  drawing  it  very  mildly. 
They  showed  symptoms  of  a panic.  It  seemed 
as  though  they  would  be  hopelessly  stampeded. 
Their  tongues  were  paralyzed,  and  they  could 
only  look  silently  into  each  other’s  white  faces. 

Si  was  the  first  to  recover  himself,  although 
it  could  hardly  be  expected  that  he  could  get  over 
his  scare  all  at  once. 

“D-d-did  it  hit  ye,  Sh-Shorty?”  he  said. 

“N-no,  I guess  not;  b-b-but  ain’t  it  aw-awful, 
Si?  You  look  so  bad  I th- thought  you  was 
k-k  killed!” 


UNDER  FIRE.  157 

“Who’s  afeard?”  said  Si.  “I  was  only  skeered 
of  you,  Shorty.  Brace  up,  now,  same’s  I do!” 

“Skirmishers — Forward!”  was  heard  along  the 
line.  “Come  on,  Shorty!”  said  Si,  and  they 
plunged  bravely  ahead. 

Emerging  suddenly  from  a thick  wood,  they 
came  upon  the  rebel  skirmishers  in  full  view, 
posted  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  field. 

Crack!  Crack! — Zip!  Zip! 

“Guess  there’s  a bee-tree  somewhere  around 
here,  from  the  way  the  bees  are  buzzin’,  said  Si. 

“’Taint  no  bees,”  replied  Shorty;  “it’s  a 
mighty  sight  worse’n  that.  Them’s  bullets, 
Si.  Don’t  ye  see  the  durned  galoots  over  yonder 
a-shootin’  at  us?” 

Si  was  no  coward,  and  he  was  determined  to 
show  that  he  wasn’t.  The  shell  a little  while 
before  had  taken  the  starch  out  of  him  for  a few 
minutes,  but  that  was  nothing  to  his  discredit. 
Many  a seasoned  veteran  found  himself  exceed- 
ingly limber  under  such  circumstances. 

“Let’s  give  the  rascals  a dose,”  said  he;  “the 
best  we’ve  got  in  the  shop!” 

Suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  Si  crept  up  to  a 
fence,  thrust  his  gun  between  the  rails,  took  good 
aim,  and  fired. 

A butfet  from  one  of  the  other  fellows  made  fche 
splinters  fly  from  a rail  a foot  or  two  from  Si’s 
head;  but  he  was  getting  excited  now,  and  he 


158 


61  KLEGG. 


dicin’:  mind  it  any  more  than  if  it  had  been  a 
paper  wacl  from  a pea  shooter. 

It  makes  a great  difference  with  a soldier  under 
fire  whether  he  can  take  a hand  in  the  game 
himself,  or  whether  he  must  lie  idle  and  let  the 
enemy  “play  it  alone.' 


“Did  ye  hear  him  squeal?”  said  Si,  as  he  drop- 
ped r*pon  the  ground  and  began  to  reload  with  all 
his  might.  “I  hit  that  son-of-a-gun,  sure*  Give 


[UNDER  FIRE. 


159 


’em  H — Hail  Columbia,  Shorty.  We’ll  show  ’em 
that  the  200th  Ind.  is  in  front  to-day!” 

“Forward,  men!”  shouted  the  officers.  “Go 
right  for  ’em!” 

The  skirmishers  sprang  over  the  fence  and 
swept  across  the  field  at  a “double-quick”  in 
the  face  of  a sputtering  fire  that  did  little  dam- 
age. None  of  them  reached  the  other  side  any 
sooner  than  Si  did.  The  rebels  seemed  to  have 
found  out  that  the  200th  boys  were  coming,  for 
they  were  already  on  the  run,  and  some  of  them 
had  started  early.  Pell-mell  through  the  brush 
they  went,  and  the  blue-blouses  after  them. 

“Halt,  there,  or  I’ll  blow  ye  into  the  middle  oy 
next  week!”  yelled  Si,  as  he  closed  up  on  a rag- 
ged specimen  of  the  Southern  Confederacy  whose 
wind  had  given  out.  Si  thought  it  would  be  a 
tall  feather  in  his  hat  if  tie  could  take  a prisoner 
and  march  him  back. 

The  “Johnny”  gave  one  glance  at  his  pursuer, 
hesitated,  and  was  lost.  He  saw  that  Si  meant 
business,  and  surrendered  at  discretion. 

“Come  ’long  with  me!”  said  Si,  his  eyes  glist- 
ening with  pleasure  and  pride.  Si  marched  him 
back  and  delivered  him  to  the  C.  *onel. 

“Well  don*,,  my  brave  fellow!”  said  the  Colonel. 
“This  is  a glorious  day  for  tin*.  200th  Ind.,  and 
you’ve  taken  its  first  prisoner.  What's  your 
name,  lay  boy?” 


I 


lift  82  KLEGG. 

- "oosiah  Klegg,  sir!”  said  Si,  blushinsr  ta  the 
very  roots  of  his  hair.  ^ 


5 company  do  you  belong  to?” 

"Company  Q,  sir!”  and  Si  saluted  the  officer  as 
steely  as  he  knew  how. 


CNDER  FIRE. 


161 


“I’ll  see  your  Captain  to-night,  Mr.  Klegg,  and 
you  shall  be  rewarded  for  your  good  conduct. 
You  may  now  return  to  your  company.” 

It  was  the  proudest  moment  of  Si’s  life  up  to 
date.  He  stammered  out  his  thanks  to  the  Col- 
onel, and  then,  throwing  his  gun  up  to  a right 
shoulder-shift,  he  started  off  on  a canter  to  re- 
join the  skirmishers. 

That  night  Si  Klegg  was  the  subject  of  a short 
conversation  between  his  Captain  and  the  Col- 
onel. Tliey  agreed  that  Si  had  behaved  very 
handsomely,  and  deserved  to  be  promoted. 

“Are  there  any  vacancies  in  your  non-com- 
missioned officers?”  asked  the  Colonel. 

“No,”  was  the  reply,  “but  there  ought  to  be.. 
One  of  my  Corporals  skulked  b^ck  to  the  rear 
this  morning  and  crawled  into  a wagon.  I think 
we  had  better  reduce  him  to  the  ranks  and  ap- 
point Mr.  Klegg.”  ^ 

“Do  so  at  once,”  said  the  Colonel. 

Next  morning  when  the  200th  was  drawn  up  in 
line  an  order  was  read  by  the  Adjutant  reducing 
the  skulker  and  promoting  Si  to  the  full  rank  of 
Corporal,  with  a few  words  commending  the  gal- 
lantry of  the  latter.  These  orders  announcing 
rewards  and  punishments  were  supposed  to  have 
a salutary  effect  in  stimulating  the  men  to  deeds 
of  glory,  and  as  a warning  to  those  who  were  a 
little  short  of  “sand*” 


162 


SI  KLEGG. 


The  Boys  of  Co.  Q showered  their  congratula- 
tions upon  Si  in  the  usual  way.  They  made  it 
very  lively  for  him  that  day.  In  the  evening  Si 


CORPORAL  KLEGG  SALUTES  HIS  FRIJ5END3. 

hunted  up  some  white  cloth,  borrowed  a needle 
and  thread,  went  off  back  of  the  tent,  rammed 
his  bayonet  into  the  ground,  stuck  a candle  in 


UNDER  FIRE.  163 

the  socket,  and  sewed  chevrons  on  the  sleeves  of 
his  blouse.  Then  he  wrote  a short  letter: 

“Deer  Annie:  I once  more  take  my  pen  in  hand 
to  tell  you  there’s  grate  news.  I’m  an  ossifer. 
We  had  an  awful  fite  yisterdy.  I don’t  know 
how  menny  rebbles  I kild,  but  I guess  thare  was 
enuff  to  start  a good  sized  graveyard.  I tuk  a 
prizner,  too,  and  the  Kurnal  says  to  me  bully  fer 
you,  Mister  Klegg,  or  sumthin  to  that  effeck.  This 
mornin  they  made  me  a Corporil,  and  red  it  out 
before  the  hull  rijiment.  I gess  youd  been  prcwd 
if  you  could  have  seen  me.  To-night  the  boys  is 
hollerin  hurraw  fer  Corporil  Klegg  all  over  camp. 
I aint  as  big  as  the  Ginrals  and  sum  of  the  other 
ossifers,  but  thars  no  tellin  how  hi  I’ll  get  in 
three  years. 

Rownd  is  the  ring  that  haint  no  end, 

So  is  my  luv  to  you  my  friend. 

Yours,  same  as  before, 

Corporal  Si  Klegg. 


164 


SI  KLEGG. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

ONE  OF  THE  “ NON-COMMISH  ” — A NIGHT’S  ADVENT- 
URES AS  “ CORPORAL  OF  THE  GUARD.” 

"Corporal  Klegg,  you  will  go  on  duty  to-night 
with  the  camp  guard!”  said  the  Orderly  of  Co. 
Q one  evening,  as  the  200th  Ind.  filed  off  into  a 
piece  of  woods  to  bivouac  for  the  night,  two  or 
three  days  after  Si  had  been  promoted. 

The  chevrons  on  his  arms  had  raised  Si  several 
degrees  in  the  estimation  not  only  of  himself, 
but  of  the  other  members  of  the  company.  His 
conduct  in  the  skirmish  had  shown  that  he  had 
in  him  the  material  for  a good  soldier,  and  even 
the  Orderly  began  to  treat  him  with  that  respect 
due  to  his  new  rank  as  one  of  the  "non-com- 
mi  sh.,v 

Like  every  other  man  who  put  on  the  army 
blue  and  marched  away  so  bold,  "with  gay  and 
gallant  tread,”  Si  could  not  tell  whether  he  was 
going  to  amount  to  anything  as  a soldier  untij 
he  had  gone  through  the  test  of  being  under  fire 
There  were  many  men  who  walked  very  erect, 
talked  bravely,  drilled  well,  and  made  a fine  ap- 
pearance on  dress  parade,  before  they  reached 
"the  front,”  but  who  wilted  at  the  "zip”  of  bul- 


ONE  OF  THE  “NON-COMMISH.”  165 

lets  like  tender  corn  blades  nipped  by  an  untimely 
frost.  And  a good  many  of  them  continued 
in  that  wilted  condition.  Perhaps  they  really 
couldn’t  help  it.  An  inscrutable  Providence  had 
seen  fit  to  omit  putting  any  “sand  in  their  giz- 
zards,” as  the  boys  expressed  it. 

It  must  be  confessed  that  Si  was  somewhat 
unduly  elated  and  puffed  up  over  his  own  achieve- 
ments as  a skirmisher  and  his  success  in  climb- 
ing the  ladder  of  military  rank  and  fame.  It  is 
true,  it  wasn’t  much  of  a fight  they  had  that  day, 
but  Si  thought  it  was  pretty  fair  for  a starter,  and 
enough  to  prove  to  both  himself  and  his  comrades 
that  he  wouldn’t  be  one  of  the  “coffee  coolers” 
when  there  was  business  on  hand. 

Si  was  sorry  that  his  regiment  did  not  get  into 
the  fight  at  Perryville.  The  200th  Ind.  belonged 
to  one  of  the  two  corps  of  Buell’s  army  that  lay 
under  the  trees  two  or  three  miles  away  all  through 
that  October  afternoon,  while  McCook’s  gallant 
men  were  in  a life-and-death  struggle  against 
overwhelming  odds.  It  bothered  Si  as  much  to 
understand  it  all  as  it  did  30,000  other  soldiers 
that  day. 

j Si  responded  with  alacrity  when  he  was  de- 
tailed for  guard  duty.  He  had  walked  a beat 
once  or  twice  as  a common  tramp,  and  had  not 
found  it  particularly  pleasant,  especially  in 
stormy  weather;  but  now  he  was  a peg  higher, 
%nd  he  thought  as  Corporal  he  would  have  a bet* 


166 


SI  KLEGG. 


ter  time.  He  had  already  observed  that  the  rude 
winds  of  army  life  were  tempered,  if  not  to  the 
shorn  lambs,  at  least  to  the  officers,  in  a degree 
proportionate  to  their  rank.  The  latter  had  the 
first  pick  of  everything,  and  the  men  took  what 
was  left.  The  officers  always  got  the  softest  rails 
to  sleep  on,  the  hardtack  that  was  least  tun- 
neled through  by  the  worms,  the  bacon  that  had 
the  fewest  maggots,  and  the  biggest  trees  in  a 
fight. 

“Forward — March !”  shouted  the  officer  in  com- 
mand,  when  the  detachment  was  ready.  Si 
stepped  off  very  proudly,  thinking  how  glad  his 
good  old  mother  and  sister  Marier  and  pretty 
Annabel  would  be  if  they  could  see  him  at  that 
moment.  He  was  determined  to  discharge  his 
official  duties  “right  up  to  the  handle,”  and 
make  the  boys  stand  around  in  lively  style. 

When  the  guard  reached  the  place  selected 
for  headquarters  the  officer  briefly  lectured  them 
in  regard  to  their  duties,  impressing  upon  them 
the  necessity  of  being  alert  and  vigilant.  There 
was  only  a thin  picket-line  between  them  and 
the  enemy.  The  safety  of  the  army  depended 
upon  the  faithfulness  of  those  appointed  to  watch 
while  others  slept.  He  gave  them  the  counter- 
sign, “Bunker  Hill,”  and  ordered  them  under  no 
circumstances  to  alWw  any  person  to  pass  with- 
out giving  it,  not  even  the  Commanding  Gen- 
eral himself.  ^ A jr 


ONE  OF  THE  “NON-COMMISH.”  167 

Then  the  guards  were  posted,  the  “L  i s”  laid 
off  and  numbered,  and  as  the  fast  gathering 
shadows  deepened  among  the  trees  the  sentinels 
paced  to  and  fro  around  the  tired  army. 


JL  TERRIBLE  TEMPTA^OW.' 

For  an  hour  or  two  after  the  guards  were  sta- 
tioned all  was  quiet  along  the  line.  The  noise 
of  tne  great  camp  was  hushed  for  the  night,  and 


168 


SI  KLEG& 


no  sound  broke  the  stillness  of  the  gloomy  forest. 
The  moon  rose  and  peeped  timidly  through  the 
branches. 

“Corporal  of  the  Guard;  Post  No.  6.” 

Si’s  quick  ear,  as  he  lay  curled  up  at  the  foot 
of  a tree,  caught  these  words,  rapidly  repeated 
by  one  sentinel  after  another.  It  was  his  first 
summons.  He  sprang  to  his  feet,  gun  in  hand, 
his  heart  beating  at  the  thought  of  adventure, 
an4  started  on  the  run  for  “Post  No.  6.” 

“What’s  up?”  he  said  to  the  guard,  with  a per- 
ceptible tremor  in  his  voice. 

“There’s  one  o’  the  boys  tryin’  to  run  the 
guards!”  was  the  answer.  “He’s  been  out  forr 
agin’,  I reckon.  He’s  got  a lot  o’  plunder  he  wants 
to  git  into  camp  with.  See  him,  out  there  in  the 
bush?” 

The  forager,  for  such  he  proved  to  be,  was 
nimbly  dodging  from  tree  to  tree,  watching  for 
a chance  to  cross  the  line,  but  the  alertness  of 
the  guards  had  thus  far  kept  hint  outside.  He 
had  tried  to  bribe  one  or  two  of  the  boys  by  offer- 
ing to  “whack  up”  if  they  would  let  him  pass  or 
give  him  the  countersign,  so  that  he  could  get  in 
at  some  other  point  in  the  cordon.  But  the 
guards  were  incorruptible.  They  were  “fresh” 
yet,  and  had  not  caught  on  to  the  plan  of  ac- 
cepting an  offered  chicken,  a section  of  succu- 
lent pig,  or  a few  sweet  potatoes,  and  then  walk- 


ONE  OF  THE  “ NON-COMMISH  ” 


169 


mg  off  to  the  remote  limit  of  the  beat,  with  eves 
to  the  front,  while  the  forager  shot  across  the 
line  in  safety.  They  learned  all  about  this  after 
a while. 

The  raider  tried  to  parley  with  Si,  but  Si  would 
n’t  have  it.  Raising  his  gun  to  a “ready”  he 
ordered  the  man  to  come  in  or  he  would  put  a 
hole  through  him. 

The  best  thing  to  do  under  the  circumstances 
was  to  obey.  The  forager,  wTho  belonged  to  Si’s 
company,  crept  up  to  Corporal  Klegg  and  in  a 
conciliatory  tone  opened  negotiations. 

“You  jest  let  me  pass,  and  you  may  have  your 
pick  of  this  stuff,”  said  he,  holding  up  a fowd  in 
one  hand  and  a ham  in  the  other.  “It’ll  be  all 
right,  and  nobody  ’ll  ever  know  nothin’  ’bout  it!” 

Si  hesitated;  it  was  human  nature.  The  offer 
was  a tempting  one,  but  he  rememberd  his  re- 
sponsibility to  his  country,  and  his  stomach  ap- 
pealed in  vain.  Duty  came  before  stewed 
chicken  or  roatsed  spare-rib. 

“Can’t  do  it!”  said  Si.  “You’ve  got  hold  of  the 
wrong  man  this  time.  I ain’t  goin’  to  have  no- 
body monkeyin’  ’round  while  I’m  Corporal  of  this 
’ere  guard.  Come  along  with  me,  and  step  out 
lively,  too!” 

Si  marched  the  culprit  back  to  headquarters 
and  delivered  him  up  to  the  officer,  who  com- 
mended Si  for  his  fidelity. 


170 


SI  KLEGO. 


Next  day  the  ground  back  of  the  Colonel’*  tent 
was  strewn  with  feathers,  chicken  bones,  ham 
rinds,  and  potato  skins,  while  the  unlucky  for- 
ager who  had  provided  the  field  officers’  mess 
with  such  a royal  meal  was  humped  around  for 
two  hours  on  “knapsack  drill,”  and  condemned 
to  spend  24  hours  in  the  guard-house. 

An  hour  later  Si  had  another  experience.  The 
Captain  of  Co.  Q felt  a kindly  interest,  and  not  a 
little  pride  in  him,  since  the  skirmish,  and  he 
thought  he  would  take  a turn  that  night  and  see 
whether  his  newly-made  Corporal  was  “up  to 
snuff.” 

“Post  No.  3,”  was  Si’s  second  call.  He  re- 
sponded promptly,  and  as  he  approached  the 
guard  the  latter  said: 

“Corporal,  here’s  the  Cap’n,  and  he  wants  to 
get  in!  He  hain’t  got  the  countersign;  shall  I 
pass  him?” 

“Good  evening,  Corporal!”  said  the  Captain,  as 
Si  came  up,  at  the  same  time  extending  his 
hand. 

Si  was  thrown  completely  off  his  guard.  Drop- 
ping the  butt  of  his  gun  carelessly  to  the  ground 
he  replied  cheerily,  “Good  evening,  Cap’n,” 
touching  his  hat  by  i&ay  of  salute.  Then  he  took 
the  proffered  hand,  pleased  at  the  Captain’s  mark 
of  kindly  recognition.  He  didn’t  understand  the 
scheme  then. 


ONE  OF  THE  “NON-COMMISH.” 


171 


“How  are  you  getting  on,  Mr.  Klegg?” 

“First  rate!”  said  Si,  with  the  air  of  one  con- 
scious that  he  had  done  his  duty  well.  “I 
capchered  a forager  a little^bit  ago  and  took  him 
to  headquarters!” 


“Well  done,  Corporal.  I have  no  doubt  you  will 
honor  the  good  name  of  the  200th  Ind.  in 
^ueral  and  Company  Q in  particular.  I got 


172 


61  KLE  GO. 


caught  outside  tonight,  and  I want  to  get  back 
into  camp.  Of  course,  you  know  me  and  it’s  all 
right!” 

“Certainly,  sir!”  said  Si,  as  he  stood  leaning 
on  his  gun  and  allowed  the  officer  to  pass  the 
magic  line.  “Good  night,  Cap’n!” 

“Good  night,  Corporal!  By  the  way,”  said  the 
Captain,  retracing  his  steps,  “1  notice  that  you 
do  not  carry  your  gun  just  right.  Let  me  show 
you  how  to  handle  it!” 

Si  didn’t  know  what  a flagrant  offense  it  was 
for  a soldier  on  guard  to  let  his  gun  go  out  of  his 
hands;  nor  had  he  the  faintest  suspicion  that 
the  Captain  was  playing  it  on  him.  So  he 
promptly  handed  his  piece  to  the  Captain,  who 
immediately  brought  it  down  to  a “charge,”  with 
the  bayonet  at  Si’s  breast. 

“Suppose,  now,  I was  a rebel  in  disguise,” 
said  the  Captain,  “what  kind  of  a fix  would  you 
be  in?” 

Light  began  to  dawn  upon  Si,  and  he  started 
back  in  terror  at  the  thought  of  the  mistake  he 
had  made. 

“Of  course,  I wouldn’t  let  anybody  else  have  it,” 
he  stammered;  “but  I know  you,  Cap’n!” 

“That,  makes  no  difference  to  a man  on  duty, 
Corporal.  You  hang  on  to  your  gun  the  rest  of 
the  night,  and  if  anybody — I don’t  care  if  it’s 
Gen.  Buell  himself — insists  on  your  giving  it  to 
him,  let  him  have  two  or  three  inches  of  the  point 


4 


ONE  OF  THE  “ NON-COMMISH.  ” 


173 


of  your  bayonet.  Don’t  let  anybody  pass  with- 
out the  countersign,  either!  Come  to  my  quarters 
when  you  are  relieved  to-morrow.” 

All  this  illustrates  the  way  the  officers  had  of 
testing  new  soldiers  and  teaching  them  a thing 
or  two,  when,  as  was  frequently  the  case,  they 
were  not  yet  up  to  the  mark.  A trick  of  extra 
duty  for  the  hapless  novitiate  was  generally  the 
penance  for  his  simplicity. 

The  cold  chills  ran  up  and  down  Si’s  back  as 
he  took  his  gun  and  slowly  returned  to  the  guard 
fire.  He  felt  that  he  had  utterly  spoiled  his  good 
record. 

“Lieutenant,”  he  said  to  the  officer,  “I  wish 
you’d  please  detail  a man  to  kick  me  for  about 
an  hour.” 

The  Lieutenant  wanted  to  know  what  the  mat- 
ter was,  and  Si  told  him  all  about  it,  ending  with: 

“So  now  I s’pose  the  Cap’n  ’ll  yank  the  stripes 
off’n  my  blouse!” 

The  officer  quieted  his  fears  by  assuring  him 
that  there  was  no  cause  for  alarm.  The  Captain 
knew  that  he  was  trying  to  do  his  duty,  and 
what  he  had  done  was  for  Si’s  own  good. 

Si  sat  down  by  the  fire  and  was  thinking  it 
over  when  there  was  another  call,  “Corporal  of 
the  j^uard!”  He  was  soon  at  the  point  indicated 
and  round  two  officers  on  horseback,  whom  he 
recognized  as  the  Colonel  and  Adjutant  of  the 


174 


SI  KLEG& 


SB'  AND  TfTE  CONTRABAND. 

200th  Ind.  Si’s  friend  Shorty  was  the  guard  who 
had  halted  them. 

“Now,  Corporal  Klegg,”  said  Si  to  himself,  laying 
his  finger  alongside  his  nose,  “you  jist  watch  out 
this  time.  Here’s  big  game!  Shouldn’t  wonder 


ONE  OF  THE  “NON-COMMISH.”  175 

if  them  ossifers  had  bin  out  skylarkin’,  and 
they’re  tryin’  to  git  in.  Don’t  ye  let  ’em  fool  ye 
as  the  Cap’n  did!” 

Si  was  right  in  his  surmise.  The  Colonel  and 
Adjutant  had  been  enjoying  a good  supper  at  a 
house  half  a mile  away,  and  had  not  the  slightest 
idea  what  the  countersign  was. 

Si  was  determined  not  to  “get  left”  this  time. 
As  he  approached,  the  Colonel  saw  that  it  was 
the  soldier  he  had  commended  for  his  gallantry 
at  the  time  of  the  skirmish. 

“Ah,  Corporal  Klegg,  I’m  glad  to  see  you  so 
prompt  in  your  duty.  I was  sure  we  had  made  no 
mistake  when  we  promoted  you.  Of  course,  you 
can  see  who  I am.  I’m  your  Colonel,  and  this 
is  the  Adjutant.  We  are,  unfortunately,  outside 
without  the  countersign;  but  you  can  just  let  us 
through.” 

The  Colonel’s  taffy  had  no  effect  on  Si.  H® 
just  brought  himself  into  a hostile  attitude,  with 
his  bayonet  in  fair  range  of  the  Colonel,  as  he 
replied : 

“Colonel,  my  orders  is  to  pass  no  livin’  man 
unless  he  says  ‘Bunker  Hill.’  I’d  be  glad  to  do 
ye  a good  turn,  but  there’s  no  use  talkin’.  I’m 
goin’  to  obey  orders,  and  ye  can’t  pass  here.” 

The  C-olonel  chuckled  softly  as  he  dismounted 
and  came  up  to  Si. 

j “It’s  all  right,”  he  said,  “of  course  I know  what 
the  countersign  is.  I was  only  trying  yon.” 


176  SI  KLEGG. 


«YE  MUST  SAY  ‘BUNKER  HILL.”' 

“Hold  on  there,”  said  Si,  “don’t  come  too  close. 
If  you’ve  got  the  countersign,  advance  and  give 


ONE  OP  THE  “NON-COMMISH.” 


177 


it.  If  ye  hain’t  got  it,  I’ll  jest  call  the  Officer  of 
the  Guard!” 

Leaning  over  the  point  of  Si’s  bayonet  the  Col- 
onel gently  whispered  “Bunker  Hill!” 

“Correct!”  said  Si,  and  bringing  his  gun  to  a 
“shoulder”  he  respectfully  saluted  the  Colonel. 
The  latter  started  to  remount,  but  turned  back 
as  he  said:  v 

“Just  let  me  show  you  how  to  hold  your  gun. 
You  don’t” * 

“Not  if  the  court  knows  herself,”  said  Si,  again 
menacing  the  Colonel  with  his  bayonet.  “That’s 
bin  played  on  me  once  to-night,  and  if  anybody 
does  it  again  my  name  ain’t  Si  Klegg!” 

“That’s  right,  Corporal,”  said  the  Colonel  as  he 
sprang  into  the  saddle;  “but  don’t  tell  anybody 
what  the  countersign  is  again!  Good  night!” 
“Good  night,  Colonel,”  said  Si,  touching  his  hat. 
As  the  officers  rode  away  Si  began  to  think  he 
had  put  his  foot  in  it  again.  He  was  confirmed 
in  this  opinion  by  seeing  Shorty  sit  down  on  a 
log  in  a paroxysm  of  laughter. 

“You  give  yerself  away  bad  that  time!”  said 
Shorty,  as  soon  as  he  could  speak.  “What  did  ye 
tell  him  the  countersign  for?” 

“Whew-w-w-w!”  observed  Si,  with  a prolonged 
whistle.  “Shorty,”  said  he,  “I  wish  you’d  take 
a club  and  see  if  you  can’t  pound  a little  sense 
into  me;  I don’t  believe  I’ve  got  any!”  With- 
out another  word  he  shouldered  his  gun  and  re- 


178  SI  KLEGG. 

turned  to  the  guard  headquarters.  “Now  Pm  a 
goner,  sfcre!”  he  said  to  himself. 

On  his  way  he  found  a guard  sitting  by  a tree, 
sound  asleep.  Carefully  taking  away  his  gun 
Si  awoke  him,  and  frightened  him  half  to  death 
by  telling  him  that  %e  would  report  him  and  he 
would  be  shot  for  sleeping  on  post.  Si  finally 
said  he  wouldn’t  tell  on  him  this  time,  but  he 
must  never  do  so  again,  or  he  would  be  a dead 
man’. 

“Corporal  of  the  guard!”  was  heard  again, 
sometime  after  midnight.  “If  they  try  any  more 
measly  tricks  on  me  to-night  somebody  ’ll  git 
hurt!”  thought  Si  as  he  walked  briskly  along  the 
line  in  response  to  the  call. 

This  time  it  was  a “contraband” — an  old  negro, 
who  stood  shivering  with  terror  as  the  guard  held 
him  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  Recalling  the 
unlucky  adventures  of  the  night,  Si  imagined 
that  it  was  one  of  the  officers,  who  had  black- 
ened himself  like  a minstrel,  and  had  come  there 
purposely  to  “catch  him.” 

“Ye  can’t  git  through  unless  ye’ve  got  the 
countersign,”  said  he,  decisively;  “and  I shan’t 
give  it  to  ye,  nuther!  And  ye  needn’t  try  to  show 
me  how  to  hold  my  gim!  I can  handle  it  well 
enough  to  shoot  and  punch  the  bayonet!” 

“Don’t  know  what  dat  all  means,  boss,”  said 
the  frightened  negro;  “butferde  good  Lawd’s  sake 
don’t  shove  dat  t’ing  frew  me,  I’se  only  bin  obei 


ONE  OF  THE  “NON-COMMISH.” 


179 


to  de  nex’  place  to  a ’possum  roast  and  I’se  jist 
gwine  home.  I didn’t  know  dese  yer  ge-yards 
was  heah!” 

Si  didn’t  propose  to  take  any  chances,  and  so 
he  marched  the  old  contraband  back  and  de- 
livered him  to  the  officer,  who  kept  him  till  morn- 
ing and  then  suffered  him  to  go  his  way. 

Once  more  that  night  Si  was  called  out,  in  ad- 
dition to  his  tramps  with  the  “reliefs”  and  the 
“grand  rounds.”  It  was,  perhaps,  an  hour  be- 
fore daylight,  and  Shorty  was  the  guard  who 
called  him.  He  told  Si  there  was  something 
walking  around  in  the  woods,  and  he  believed  it 
was  a rebel  trying  to  creep  up  on  them.  He  had 
challenged  two  or  three  times,  but  got  no  answer. 
The  moon  had  gone  down,  and  in  the  dark  woods 
objects  at  any  distance  could  not  be  distinguished. 
. “There,  d’ye  hear  that?”  said  Shorty,  as  there 
came  a sound  of  crackling  sticks  and  rustling 
leaves. 

“Halt!”  exclaimed  Si.  “Who  comes  there?” 

There  was  no  response,  and  Si  challenged  again 
with  like  result. 

“Sborty,”  said  Si,  “let’s  fire  both  together,” 
and  crack  went  their  muskets. 

For  a moment  there  was  a great  floundering, 
and  then  all  was  still.  As  soon  as  it  was  light, 
and  Shorty  was  relieved,  he  and  Si  went  out  to 
see  the  result  of  their  fire.  What  they  found 
is  shown  by  our  artist. 


180 


SI  KLEGGk 


On  the  whole,  it  was  a busy  and  interesting 
night  for  Si.  He  did  not  lose  his  chevrons  on 
account  of  his  mistakes.  But  he  learned  some- 
thing, and  the  lesson  was  impressed  upon  his 
mind  by  a few  kindly  words  of  caution  and  ad- 
vice from  the  Captain  of  Co.  Q. 


FU  It  AGING  ON  THE  WAY. 


181 


chapter  xvii. 

FORAGING  ON  THE  WAY  SI  UAS  SOME  VARIED  EX- 
PERIENCES WITH  SOUTHERN  PRODUCTS. 

The  long  chase  after  Bragg  from  Louisville  to 
the  mountains  of  southeastern  Kentucky  was 
rough  on  the  new  troops.  It  weeded  them  out 
very  fast,  and  in  every  town  through  which  Buell’s 
army  passed  the  buildings  were  turned  into  hos- 
pitals and  filled  with  sick  and  crippled  soldiers, 
who  had  found  out  early  that  they  were  not 
physically  able  to  endure  the  hardships  of  an 
active  campaign.  At  the  end  of  two  or  three 
weeks  some  of  the  new  regiments  were  as  much 
reduced  in  numbers  as  most  of  those  that  went 
out  in  ’61  were  during  their  first  six  months. 

The  200th  Ind.  jogged  along  bravely,  but  its 
ranks  had  suffered  the  common  shrinkage.  Not 
less  than  400  of  Us  men  had  fallen  by  the  way- 
side,  and  were  taking  quinine  and  blue-mass 
and  rubbing  arnica  on  their  legs  all  along  the 
tortuous  route.  Y 

Corporal  Si  Klegg  and  his  friend  Shorty  proved 
to  be  “stayers.”  Full  of  life  and  ambition,  they 
were  always  prompt  for  duty  and  ready  for  a 
fight  or  a frolic.  No  one  was  more  quick  than  Si 


182 


61  KLEGG. 


to  offer  a suffering  comrade  the  last  drop  of  fresh 
water  in  his  canteen  or  give  him  a lift  by  car- 
rying his  gun  a piece. 

One  day  the  regiment  started  out  for  an  easy, 
comfortable  day’s  march.  The  coast  was  clear 
of  rebels,  and  there  being  no  excuse  for  crowd- 
ing on  the  steam,  the  boys  were  allowed  to  take 
their  own  gait,  while  the  horses  of  the  officers 
and  cavalry  had  a chance  to  recover  their  wind. 

It  was  a warm  day  late  in  October.  The  nights 
at  this  time  were  keen  and  frosty,  but  the  sun 
at  mid-day  still  showed  much  of  his  Summer 
vigor.  Perspiration  flowed  freely  down  the  faces 
of  those  wandering  Hoosiers — faces  that  were  fast 
assuming  the  color  of  half-tanned  leather  under 
the  influence  of  sunshine  and  storm. 

Once  an  hour  there  was  the  customary  halt, 
when  the  boys  would  stretch  their  legs  by  the 
roadside,  hitching  their  knapsacks  up  under  their 
heads.  When  the  allotted  time  had-  expired  the 
bugler  blew  “Fall  in,”  the  notes  of  which  dur- 
ing the  next  two  years  became  so  familiar  to  the 
ears  of  the  200th.  Later  in  ’64,  the  Indiana  boys 
mingled  their  voices  with  the  rest  of  Sherman’s 
hundred  thousand  veterans  as  they  sang : 

“I  know  you  are  tired,  but  still  you  must  go 
Down  to  Atlanta  to  see  the  big  show.” 

The  soldiers  were  in  good  spirits.  As  they 
marched  they  fired  jests  at  one  another,  and 
laughter  rippled  along  the  line* 


FORAGING  ON  THE  WAY. 


183 


The  only  thing  that  troubled  them  was  the 
emaciated  condition  of  their  haversacks,  with 
a corresponding  state  of  affairs  in  their  several 
stomachs.  The  Commissary  Department  was 
thoroughly  demoralized.  The  supply  train  had 
failed  to  connect,  and  rations  were  almost  ex- 
hausted. There  was  no  prospect  that  the  ach- 
ing void  would  be  filled,  at  least,  in  the  regular 
way,  until  they  reached  a certain  place,  which 
would  not  be  until  the  following  day. 

Strict  orders  against  foraging  were  issued  al- 
most daily  under  the  Buell  dispensation. 
These  were  often  read  impressively  to  the  new 
troops,  who,  in  their  simplicity,  “took  it  all  in” 
as  military  gospel.  The  effect  was  somewhat 
depressing  upon  the  ardor  with  which,  otherwise, 
they  would  have  pursued  the  panting  pig  and 
the  fluttering  fowl,  and  reveled  in  the  orchards 
and  potato-fields.  A few  irrepressible  fellows 
managed  to  get  a choice  meal  now  and  then — 
just  enough  to  show  that  the  200th  Ind.  was  not 
without  latent  talent  in  this  direction,  which 
only  needed  a little  encouragement  to  become 
fruitful  of  results. 

\But  these  orders  against  foraging  didn’t  hold 
the  soldiers  of  the  crop  of  1861.  It  was  like  try- 
ing to  carry  water  in  a sieve.  When  rations  were 
short,  or  if  they  wanted  to  vary  the  rather  mono- 
tonous bill  of  fare,  they  always  found  a way  to 
anake  up  any  existing  deficiency. 


184 


SI  KLEGG. 


On  the  day  in  question  a few  hints  were  thrown 
out  which  resulted  in  a tacit  understanding  that, 
in  view  of  the  actual  need  of  the  soldiers,  if  they 
got  a good  chance  to  pick  up  something  the  eyes 
of  the  officers  would  be  closed.  In  fact,  the  of- 
ficers were  as  hungry  as  the  men,  and  hoped  to 
come  in  for  a “divide.” 

Soon  after  starting  in  the  moring  a persimmon 
tree,  well  laden  with  fruit,  was  seen  in  a field  not 
far  from  the  road.  About  fifty  men  started  for  it 
on  a run,  and  in  five  minutes  it  was  as  bare  as 
the  barren  fig  tree 

The  persimmon  has  some  very  marked  pecu- 
liarities. It  is  a toothsome  fruit  when  well  rip- 
ened by  frost,  but  if  eaten  before  it  has  reached 
the  point  of  full  maturity,  the  effect  upon  one’s 
interior  is  unique  and  startling.  The  pungent 
juices  take  hold  of  the  mouth  and  pucker  it  up 
in  such  a manner  as  to  make  even  speech  for  a 
time  impossible.  The  tongue  seems  as  if  it  were 
tied  in  a knot.  If  the  juice  be  swallowed,  similar 
results  follow  all  along  its  course.  But  the  nov- 
ice does  not  often  get  far  enough  for  that. 

The  boys  soon  found  that  the  ’simmons,  although 
they  looked  very  tempting,  were  too  green  to  be 
eaten  with  any  degree  of  enjoyment.  So  they  filled 
their  pockets  with  them  to  pucker  up  the  regi- 
ment. Shorty  had  joined  in  the  scramble,  telling 
Si  he  would  bring  him  a good  supply. 

“Ain’t  them  nice?”  he  s('aid  to  Si,  holding  out 


FORAGING  ON  THE  WAY. 


185 


three  or  four  of  the  greenest  ones  he  could  find. 
“Eat  ’em;  they  he  jest  gorjus!  You  can’t  help 
likin’  ’em.” 


Si  had  never  seen  any  persimmons  before. 
They  were  certainly  tempting  to  the  eye,  and  he 
thought  they  were  sent  as  manna  was  supplied 
to  the  children  of  Israel  in  the  wilderness. 

(Eagerly  seizing  them,  Si  tossed  one  into  his 
mouth  and  began  to  chew  it  with  great  vigor. 
The  persimmon  got  in  its  work  at  once.  It  took 


186 


SI  KLEGG. 


hold  with  a mighty  grip,  wrinkling  him  up  like 
the  skins  on  scalded  milk. 

After  sputtering  vigorously  a few  minutes,  while 
Shorty  laughed  at  him,  Si  managed  to  get  his 
tongue  untwisted. 

“Yes,”  said  he,  “them  things  is  nice — in  a 
horn!  ’Twouldn’t  take  many  of  ’em  to  make  a 
meal!” 

A little  farther  on  Si’s  quick  eye  noticed  a row 
of  beehives  standing  on  a bench  in  the  yard  of 
one  of  the  natives.  Si  had  a weakness  for  honey. 

“Shorty,”  said  he,  “see  them  hives  over  there? 
How’d  ye  like  to  have  some  honey  for  supper?” 

Shorty  “allowed”  that  it  \frould  be  a good  thing. 
Si  stopped  and  waited  a few  minutes  until  his 
own  regiment  got  past,*  thinking  his  plan  would 
be  less  liable  to  interruption.  Then  he  leaped 
over  the  fence,  went  up  to  the  hives,  and  boldly 
tipped  one  of  them  over,  hoping  he  could  get  out 
a comb  or  two,  fill  up  his  coffee-kettle,  and  effect 
his  retreat  before  the  bees  really  found  out  what 
he  was  up  to. 

But  the  bees  instantly  rallied  their  forces  and 
made  a vigorous  assault  upon  the  invader.  Si 
saw  that  it  would  be  too  hot  for  him,  and  with- 
out standing  upon  the  order  of  his  going  he  went 
at  once,  in  a decidedly  panicky  state  of  mind. 
The  bees  made  the  most  of  their  opportunity, 
using  their  “business  ends”  on  him  with  great 
activity  and  zeal.  They  seemed  to  fully  share 


188 


SI  KLEGG. 


the  common  feeling  in  the  South  toward  the 
“Yanks.” 

A disheveled  woman,  smoking  a cob-pipe,  had 
watched  Si’s  raid  from  the  doorway.  As  he  fell 
back  in  utter  rout  she  screamed  “Sarves  ye  right!” 
and  then  sat  down  on  the  doorstep  and  laughed 
till  she  cried.  She  enjoyed  it  as  much  as  the 
bees  did. 


/The  latter  took  hold  of  Si  in  various  places,  and 
by  the  time  he  had  caught  up  with  the  regiment 
one  eye  was  closed,  and  there  was  a big  lump  on 


FOEAGING  ON  THE  WAY. 


189 


his  nose,  Besides  several  more  stings  which  the 
bees  had  judiciously  distributed  about  his  person. 
It  was  very  evident  that  he  had  been  overmatched 
and  had  come  out  second  best  in  the  encounter. 

Corporal  Klegg  presented  a picturesque  ap- 
pearance as  he  reached  Co.  Q.  The  boys  fairly 
yelled  with  delight. 


A CASE  OF  tTECESSITE, 


“Whar’s  yer  honey?”  said  Shorty.  “yPears  like 
ye  waked  up  the  wrong  passenger  that  time!” 

Si  laughed  with  the  rest,  rubbed  salt  on  his 
stings,  and  plodded  on,  consoling  himself  with 
the  thought  that  his  was  not  the  only  case  in 


190 


ei  KLEGG. 


which  the  merit  of  earnest  effort  had  gone  un- 
rewarded. 

Soon  after  noon  the  200th  came  to  a large  patch 
of  sweet  potatoes.  Si  and  Shorty,  as  well  as  a 
good  many  of  the  rest,  thought  it  would  be  a 
good  place  to  lay  in  a supply  for  supper,  as  they 
might  not  have  another  so  good  a chance.  From 
all  parts  of  the  column  the  men,  by  dozens, 
dashed  into  the  field.  In  a moment  there  was  a 
man  at  every  hill,  digging  away  with  his  bayo- 
net, and  chucking  the  tempting  tubers  into  his 
haversack.  Our  artist  has  pictured  the  scene 
in  a manner  that  will  touch  a responsive  chord 
in  the  memories — not  to  mention  the  stomachs — 
of  the  old  veterans  of  the  war. 

Two  hours  before  going  into  camp  the  regi- 
ment passed  a small  spring,  around  which  a 
crowd  of  soldiers  were  struggling  to  fill  their  can- 
teens. There  had  been  a long  stretch  without 
fresh  water,  and  Si  thought  he  would  supply  him- 
self. 

"Gimme  your  canteen,  too,  Shorty,  and  Fll  fil] 
it!”  he  said. 

"Here,  Si,  you’re  a Bully  Boy,  take  mine!” 
"Mine,  too!”  "And  mine!”  said  one  after  another 
of  his  comrades.  Si  good  naturedly  complied 
and  they  loaded  him  down  with  about  20  canteens. 

"All  right,”  said  Si,  "Fll  be  along  with  ’em  full 
d’reckly!”  7' 

He  had  to  wait  for  his  turn  at  the  spring,  and 


FOEAGING  ON  THE  WAY. 


191 


By  the  time  he  had  filled  all  the  canteens  he  was 
half  an  hour  behind.  Slinging  them  around  his 
neck  he  started  on,  with  just  about  as  big  a load 
as  he  could  carry. 

Si  forged  ahead,  gradually  gaining  a little, 
through  the  tardy  movement  of  the  column  that 
generally  preceded  going  into  camp.  The  can- 
teen straps  chafed  his  shoulders,  his  back  ached, 
and  perspiration  breamed  from  every  pore.  The 
smoke  of  the  campfires  ahead  told  that  the  end 
of  the  day’s  march  was  near.  He  kept  on  and 
finally  came  up  with  Co.  Q just  as  the  200th  was 
stacking  arms  on  the  bank  of  a clear  stream. 

Si  threw  down  his  burdens  of  canteens,  him- 
self thoroughly  blown  and  wTell-nigh  exhausted. 

“Purty  good  load,  wa’n’t  it,  Si?”  said  Shorty. 
“But  what  made  ye  lug  all  that  water  in  here? 
When  ye  saw  they  was  goin’  into  camp  ahead  ye 
might  ha’  knowed  there  was  plenty  o’  water. 
Why  in  blazes  didn’t  ye  turn  the  water  out  o’ 
them  ’ere  canteens.” 

“I’ll  be  hanged  if  I thought  o’  that!”  said  Si, 
while  the  boys  joined  in  a hearty  laugh. 

At  the  command  “Break  ranks”  there  was  a 
general  scamper  to  engage  in  the  work  of  getting 
supper  and  preparing  to  spend  the  night  with  as 
much  comfort  as  possible.  The  members  of  each 
mess  scattered  in  all  directions  for  water,  rails, 
straw,  etc.,  while  some  went  out  to  scour  the  ad- 
jacent region  for  edibles. 


192 


SI  KLEGG. 


'These  exercises  the  soldiers  always  entered 
into  with  the  heartiest  gusto,  and  the  scene  will 
be  well  remembered  by  all  those  who  marched. 

lSi  threw  off  his  traps  and  dropped  on  the 
ground  to  rest  a few  minutes.  He  got  up  pres- 


ently to  scratch  around  with  the  rest.  As  he 
took  hold  of  his  haversack  he  was  surprised  at 
its  lightness.  When  he  laid  it  down  it  was  bulg- 
ing out  with  sweet  potatoes,  and  a glance  showed 
him  that  these  were  all  gone.  ^ 


FORAGING  ON  THE  WAY. 


193 


f “Dern  my  buttons !”  exclaimed  Si,  as  he  for- 
got his  weariness,  and  his  eyes  flashed  fire.  “If 
I am  a Corporal,  I kin  jest  mash  the  feller  that 
stole  my  Waters,  I don’t  keer  if  he’s  ten  foot 
high.  Won’t  somebody  show  ’im  to  me?  There 
won’t  be  ’nuff  of  ’im  left  to  hold  a fun’ral  over?” 

Si  pranced  around  in  a high  state  of  inflam- 
mation, and  it  is  probable  that  if  he  had  found 
the  purloiner  of  his  provender  there  would  have 
been  a harder  fight  than  any  that  occurred  be- 
tween Buell  and  Bragg. 

The  boys  winked  slyly  at  one  another,  and  all 
said  it  was  too  bad.  It  was  a startling  case  of 
turpitude,  and  Si  determined  to  have  revenge  by 
getting  even  with  some  other  fellow,  without 
pausing  to  consider  the  questions  of  moral  phi- 
losophy involved. 

“Come  ’long  with  me,  Shorty!”  he  said  to  his 
friend,  and  they  strode  away.  Just  outside  the 
camp  they  came  upon  two  members  of  some  other 
new  regiment  coming  into  camp  with  a fine  pig 
slung  over  a pole  and  two  or  three  chickens  in 
their  hands.  Shorty  suggested  to  Si  that  this 
was  a good  chance  for  him  to  even  up. 

“Halt,  there!”  shouted  Si  to  the  foragers. 
“We’re  sent  out  to  pick  up  such  fellows  as  yout” 

The  effect  was  like  a discharge  from  a masked 
battery.  The  men  dropped  their  plunder  and  fled 
in  wild  confusion. 

4K 


194 


SI  KLEG& 


“Take  hold  o9  that  pole,  Shorty!”  said  Si,  and 
laying  it  upon  their  shoulders  they  made  a tri- 
umphant entry  into  camp. 

There  seemed  to  be  no  danger  of  immediate 
starvation  in  the  ranks  of  the  200th.  Each  man 
appeared  to  have  supplied  himself  during  the 
day.  On  every  hand  fires  gleamed  brightly  in  the 
gathering  twilight,  and  around  them  crowded  the 
hungry  soldiers,  intent  upon  the  simple  culinary 
processes  incident  to  the  evening  meal. 


A SUNDAY  OFF. 


195 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


A SUNDAY  OFF— SI  AND  SHORTY  GET  A MUCH-NEEDED 
WASH-UP. 

“You  can  take  it  easy  to-day,  boys,  for  we  ain't 
goin’  to  move!”  said  the  Orderly  of  Co.  Q one 
morning  at  roll-call.  “The  orders  is  for  to  put 
the  camp  in  nice  shape,  and  for  the  men  to  wash 
up.  We’re  goin’  to  have  an  extra  ration  of  soap 
this  mornin’,  and  you  fellows  want  to  stir  around 
lively  and  fix  yerselves  as  if  it  was  Sunday  and 
ye  was  goin’  to  meetin’.  The  fust  thing  after 
bir^akfast  all  hands  ’ll  turn  out  and  p’leece  ther 
camp.” 

“What  in  the  world  does  he  mean  by  p’leecin’ 
the  camp?”  Corporal  Klegg  asked  Shorty,  as  they 
stood  by  the  fire  shaking  coffee  and  warming  up 
the  fragments  of  chicken  that  had  been  left  over 
from  supper  the  night  before.  “J  didn’t  s’pose* 
said  Si,  “that  we  ’listed  to  be  p’leecemexr  f” 

Shorty  replied  that  he  didn’t  know,  but  be 
reckoned  they’d  find  out  soon  enough.  The  20<Hh 
Ind.  had  been  on  the  jump  every  day  since  leav- 
ing Louisville,  and  this  was  the  first  time  it  had 
been  called  on  to  “police”  a camp. 

As  soon  as  breakfast  was  over  the  Orderlv  di- 
rected each  man  to  provide  himself  with  a small 


196 


SI  KLEGG. 


Bundle  of  sticks,  made  by  putting  together  a 
dozen  bits  of  brush  or  “switches”  three  or  four 
feet  long,  such  as  are  used  by  rural  pedagogs  to 
enforce  discipline.  These,  he  said,  were  the  im- 
plements used  in  policing  camp,  which  meant 
brushing  the  leaves  and  loose  debris  outside  the 
grounds.  ^ ~ 


*“T)oes  Corporils  have  to  do  that  sort  o’  thing?” 
asked  Si.  He  thought  army  regulations  and 
camp  usage  ought  to  show  some  consideration 
lot  bis  rank.  “What’s  the  use  of  bein’  a Corporil,” 


A SUNDAY  OFF. 


197 


he  said  to  himself,  “if  it  don’t  give  a feller  a 
chance  to  play  off  once  in  a while?” 

^Corporals  ain’t  no  better’n  anybody  else,”  re- 
plied the  Orderly,  “’n’  you  can  jist  git  some  brush 
and  go  to  work,  ’long  with  the  rest!” 

Si  was  disposed  to  grumble  a little,  but  he 
obeyed  orders  and  was  soon  scratching  up  the 
leaves  and  dust  with  great  zeal.  He  did  not  find 
it  a particularly  pleasant  occupation,  but  the  camp 
looked  so  much  better  when  the  job  wras  done, 
that  he  thought  it  was  not  a bad  thing,  after  all. 

“Now,  Shorty,”  said  Si,  “let’s  go  down  to  the 
creek  and  do  our  washin’.  My  clothes  has  got 
to  be  biled,  and  I shouldn’t  wonder  if  yourn  had, 
too.” 

“Yes,  that’s  a fact!”  said  Sho'ty,  sadly. 

They  got  a big  camp-kettle  th  t had  been  used, 
and  would  be  again,  for  making  bean-soup,  and 
started  for  the  stream  back  of  the  camp.  They 
had  no  change  of  clothing  with  them.  Som*> 
days  before,  in  order  to  lighten  their  knapsacks, 
they  had  taken  out  their  extra  shirts  and  draw- 
ers, tied  them  in  a bundle,  and  put  them  on  the 
company  wagon,  and  this  was  somewhere  back 
in  the  rear,  owing  to  the  confusion  the  cam- 
paign. 

“Seems  to  me,”  observed  Si,  “it  ain’t  hardly  a 
fair  shake  for  Uncle  Sam  to  make  us  do  our 
washin’.  They  ought  to  confiscate  the  niggers 
sn’  set  them  at  it;  or  I don’t  see  why  the  Guvy- 


198 


SI  KLEGG. 


ment  can’t  furnish  a washin’  masheen  for  each 
comp’ny!  ’Twouldn’t  be  no  more’n  the  square 
thing!” 

“The  wimmen  does  the  washing  ye  know,  Si, 
up  where  we  live,”  said  Shorty,  “’n’  I don’t  quite 
like  the  notion  o’  doin’  that  kind  o’  work,  but  I 
can’t  jest  see  how  we’re  goin’  to  git  out 
of  it.  It’s  got  to  be  done,  that’s  sure!” 

On  the  bank  of  the  stream  they  quickly  threw 
off  their  clothes  for  a bath.  Si  cast  rueful  glances 
at  his  nether  garments  as  he  laid  them  on  the 
ground. 

“Hadn’t  we  better  pile  some  rocks  on  ’em, 
Shorty?”  said  he.  I’m  afeared  if  we  don’t  they’ll 
crawl  off  into  the  bush. 

“Guess  we  had,”  replied  Shorty.  “I  b’lieye 
mine’s  started  already!” 

Having  made  sure  of  them.,  they  plunged  into 
the  water.  Far  up  and  down  the'  stream  were 
hundreds  of  men,  swimming  and  splashing  about. 

The  soldiers  availed  themselves  of  every  op- 
portunity to  enjoy  this  luxury. 

Having  thoroughly  performed  their  ablutions, 
Si  and  Shorty  turned  their  energies  toward  the 
clothes,  which  were  in  such  sore  need  of  soap 
and  hot  water.  Hutting  their  garments  into  th© 
kettle  and  tilling  it  with  water,  they  built  a fire 
under  it.  After  half  an  hour  of  vigorous  boiling 
they  concluded  they  were  “done.”  Plenty  of 
soap,  rubbing  and  rinsing  finished  the  work,  and 


A SUNDAY  OFF. 


199 


the  clothes  presented  a quite  respectable  ap- 
pearance 

“How’re  we  goin’  to  git  ’em  dry?”  asked  Si,  as 
he  wrung  out  the  last  of  his  “wash.” 

“Hang  ’em  on  the  fence  in  the  sun!”  replied 
Shorty. 


“But  what’ll  we  wear  while  they’re  dryin’?” 
“Nothin’,  I reckon!” 

So  they  spread  out  their  garments,  and  then 
dashed  again  into  the  water.  After  splashing 
awhile  they  came  out  ajid  drew  on  their  half- 
dried  trousers.  Shorty  lighted  his  pipe  as  they 


200 


81  KLEGG. 


sat  down  to  wait  for  the  sunshine  to  do  its  per- 
fect work.  All  along  the  stream  were  soldiers  in 
similar  stages  of  dishabille.  It  seemed  like  the 
Garden  of  Eden. 

“Say,  Shorty,”  said  Si,  “’taint  very  wicked  to 
smoke,  is  it?” 

“Guess  not!”  was  the  reply. 

“That’s  the  way  it  ’pears  to  me,  ’n’  I’ve  been 
kinder  thinkin’  lately  that  I’d  learn  how.  The 
soljers  all  seem  to  enjoy  their  smokin’  so  much* 
You  know,  Shorty,  that  I was  always  a reel  good 
boy — never  smoked,  nor  chawed  terbacker,  nor 
cussed,  nor  done  nothin’  that  was  out  o’  the 
straight  an’  narrer  way.  When  I jined  the  rigi- 
ment  my  good  old  mother  says  to  me:  *'Now,  Si’ 
says  she,  ’I  do  hope  ye’ll  ’member  what  I’ve 
always  taught  ye.  I’ve  hearn  ’em  tell  that  they 
does  drefful  things  in  the  army,  and  I want  ye  to 
see  if  ye  can’t  be  as  good  a boy  as  ye’ve  been  at 
home.’  Of  course,  I told  her  I would,  ’n’  I mean 
ter  stick  to  it;  but  I don’t  b’lieve  there’s  any 
harm  in  smokin’.  Is  it  hard  to  learn?” 

“Wall,  Idunno;  Ireck’n  ye  can’t  most  always  tell 
till  ye  try.  Take  a whiff,  and  see  how  she  goes!” 
And  handed  him  his  pipe,  which  he  had 

juat  refilled  with  whittlings  of  black  “navy  plug.” 

*T)erned  if  I don’t  try  it!”  said  Si,  as  he  took  the 
pipe  and  began  to  puff  with  great  energy.  He 
made  a few  wry  faces  at  first,  but  Shorty  told  him 


A SUNDAY  OFF.  20* 

to  stick  to  it,  and  he  bravely  pulled  away  while 
the  clouds  of  smoke  curled  above  him. 

It  was  not  long  till  the  color  left  his  face,  his 
head  was  in  a whirl,  and  his  stomach  began  to 
manifest  eruptive  symptoms. 

“Shorty,”  he  gasped,  “I’m  awful  sick.  If 
smokin’  makes  a feller  feel  like  this  I don’t  want 
any  more  of  it  in  mine.” 

“Where’s  all  yer  sand  ye  brag  so  much  about?” 
said  Shorty,  laughing.  “You’re  mighty  poor  tim- 
ber for  a soljer  if  ye  can’t  stand  a little  pipe  o* 
terbacker  like  that.  You’ll  get  over  it  purty  soofr, 
and  it  won’t  bother  ye  any  next  tim*5  ye  try  it.1' 

Si  found  that  he  had  on  hand  about  as  much 
as  he  could  manage  with  his  dizzy  head  and  the 
rebellion  that  was  so  actively  going  on  at  a point 
a little  lower  in  his  physical  system.  The  feel- 
ing wore  gradually  off,  however,  and  by  the  time 
he  was  able  to  walk  their  clothes  were  well  dried. 
They  proceeded  to  “dress  up,”  and  then  returned 
to  camp. 

During  the  afternoon  the  camp  was  visited  by 
natives,  black  and  white,  from  the  region  round 
about,  with  corn  “pones,”  alleged  pies,  boiled 
eggs,  and  truck  of  various  kinds,  which  they 
sought  to  dispose  of  for  a valuable  consideratkixs. 
They  struck  a bad  crowd,  however,  in  a financial 
sense.  The  members  of  the  200th  Ind.  y&me  not 
at  this  time  in  a condition  of  opulence.  Most  of 
them  had  spent  what  caoney  they  brought  from 


«A  .LITTLE  MORE  CIDER,  TOO.? 


A SUNDAY  OFF. 


203 


home,  and  they  had  not  been  out  long  enough 
yet  to  receive  a visit  from  the  Paymaster.  The 
lank  men  and  scrawny  women  cried  their  wares 
vociferously,  but  with  indifferent  results  The 
boys  wanted  the  stuff,  but  they  were  “busted,” 
and  trade  was  dull. 

Si  looked  wistfully  at  the  “pies,”  and  suggested 
to  Shorty  a joint  investment.  Their  purses  were 
nearly  empty,  but  the  temptation  was  too  strong 
to  be  resisted. 

“Them  looks  nice,”  said  Si.  They  were  the 
first  pies  he  had  seen  since  leaving  home,  and 
his  judgment  was  a little  “off.”  As  a matter  of 
fact,  it  was  only  by  the  greatest  stretch  of  cour- 
tesy that  they  could  be  called  pies  at  all.  But 
the  word  touched  Si  in  a tender  spot,  and  he  only 
thought  of  such  as  his  mother  used  to  make. 

: Si  and  Shorty  “pooled  in”  and  bought  a pie. 
Impatiently  whipping  out  his  pocket  knife  Si 
tried  to  cut  it  in  two.  It  was  hard  work,  for  the 
“crust” — so  called — was  as  tough  as  the  hide  of 
a mule.  By  their  united  efforts  they  at  length 
succeeded  in  sawing  it  asunder.  It  was  a fear- 
ful and  wonderful  specimen  of  culinary  effort.  It 
was  made  of  two  slabs  of  sodden,  leathery 
dough,  with  a very  feeble  layer  of  stewed  &pple§ 
sandwiched  between  them. 

Si  tried  his  teeth  on  the  pie,  but  it  was  like 
trying  to  chew  an  old  boot-leg. 

S“I  say,  old  lady,”  said  he,  turning  to  the  femal© 


204 


SI  KLEGG. 


of  whom  he  had  bought  it,  “is  these  pies  pegged 
or  sewed?” 

“Look  a hyar,  young  feller,”  said  the  woman, 
with  considerable  vinegar  in  her  tone,  “p’raps 
you-uns-all  thinks  it’s  right  smart  to  insult 
we-uns;  it  shows  how  yer  wuz  broughten  up.  I 


don’t  ’low  yer  ever  seed  any  nicer  dog-g-goned 
pies  ’n  them  is.  Ye  needn’t  try  ter  argify  ’long 
*t ti  me,  fur  1 kin  jest  knock  the  spots  off’n  any 
woman  there  is  ’round  here  in  cookin’.” 

Si  saw  that  it  would  be  profitless  to  discuss  the 
matter,  and  concluded  to  make  the  best  gf  a bad 
bargain.  But  he  couldn’t  eat  the  pie. 

On  the  whole,  the  hucksters  iared  rather  badly. 


A SUNDAY  OFF. 


205 


The  Boys  confiscated  most  of  the  stuff  that  was 
brought  in,  promising  to  pay  next  time  they  came 
that  way.  There  was  a good  deal  of  grumbling, 
but  the  trouble  always  ended  in  the  soldiers  get- 
ting the  plunder. 

The  climax  was  reached  when  a putty-faced 
citizen  drove  into  camp  a bony  mule  tied  with 
straps  and  ropes  and  strings  to  a crazy  cart,  on 
which  was  a barrel  of  cider,  which  he  “allowed” 
to  sell  out  to  the  boys  at  10  cents  a drink,  or  a 
quarter  a canteen  full.  He  had  a spigot  rigged  up 
in  one  end  and  an  old  tin  cup,  with  which  he 
dealt  out  the  seductive  beverage  to  such  as 
would  pay.  ^ 

A thirsty  crowd  gathered  around  him,  but  sales 
were  slow,  on  account  of  the  scarcity  of  money. 
Si  and  Shorty  mingled  with  the  boys,  and  then 
drew  aside  and  Engaged  in  a whispered  consul- 
tation. 

“That’ll  be  jest  bully!”  said  Shorty.  “If  you 
can  raise  an  auger  somewhere  we’ll  git  the  bulge 
on  that  old  chap.” 

Si  returned  after  a brief  absence,  with  an  auger 
which  he  had  borrowed  from  the  driver  of  an 
ammunition  wagon. 

“Now,  Shorty,”  said  Si,  “you  git  the  boys  to 
stand  around  and  keep  up  a racket,  and  I’ll  crawl 
under  that  cart  and  bore  a hole  into  that  ’ere 
barrel.  Then  pass  in  yer  canteens  and  camg 
kettles  ’n’  we’ll  show  the  old  man  a trickl” 


206 


SI  KLEGG. 


J 


Shorty  quietly  broached  the  scheme  to  a few  of 
his  comrades,  who  fell  in  with  it  at  once.  Gather- 
ing around  the  cart,  they  cheered  and  chattered  so 
as  to  drown  any  noise  Si  might  make  yhile  carry- 
ing out  his  plan,  and  which  would  “giVe  it  away.” 

It  was  not  more  than  a minute  till  a gurgling 
sound  was  heard,  and  Si  began  to  pass  out  to 
the  boys  the  buckets  and  canteens  which  they 
so  freely  furnished  him,  filled  with  the  fast-flow- 
ing contents  of  the  barrel.  It  didn’t  take  long  to 
empty  it  entirely,  nor  did  the  citizen  discover  the 
state  of  affairs  until  the  cider  no  longer  ran  from 
the  spigot. 

He  had  not  sold  more  than  a gallon  or  two,  and 
he  was  amazed  when  the  liquid  ceased  to  re- 
spond. Then  he  resolved  himself  into  an  in- 
vestigating committee,  and  after  a protracted 
search  he  discovered  the  trick  that  had  been  play- 
ed on  him 

“Wall,  I’ll  be  gosh-durned!’\he  exclaimed.  “I’ve 
hearn  tell  ’bout  Yankee  tricks,  but  dog  my  cats 
ii  this  ’ere  don’t  beat  ’em  all!  I’d  like  to  cut  the 
gizzard  outen  the  rascal  that  bored  the  hole  in 

that  bar’ll” 

“I  declare,  old  pard,  that  was  mean!”  said  Si, 
who  stood  looking  on,  with  his  hands  in  his 
trousers  pockets,  the  very  picture  of  innocence. 
“I'm  jist  goin’  to  flax ’round  ’n’  help  ye  find  that 
feller.  If  I was  you  I’d  pound  the  stuffin’  out  of 
him  — ye  cotsSh  himl” 


A CLOSE  CALL. 


207 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


A CLOSE  CALL-CORPORAL  KLEGG  HAS  AN  EXCITING 

ADVENTURE  WITH  CO.  Q GUARDING  A FORAGE 

TRAIN. 

“Company  Q’s  bin  detailed  to  go  out  fn’  help 
guard  a forage  train  to-morrow,”  said  the  Orderly 
one  evening  at  roll-call.  “You  fellers  wants  to 
all  be  up  yny  dressed  bright  ’n’  early,  with  yer 
cartridge-boxes  full  ’n’  a day’s  rations  in  yer 
haversacks.  Be  sure  yer  guns  is  in  good  order, 
fer  likely’s  not  we’ll  have  a squirmish  afore  we 
git  back.” 

The  200th  Ind.  had  been  lying  in  camp  for  two 
or  three  days,  and  the  ambitious  heros  who  com- 
posed that  regiment  were  getting  tired  of  loafing 
about.  Nothing  chafed  the  raging  patrio*ti^m  of 
the  new  troops  like  a condition,  however  brief, 
of  masterly  inactivity.  They  refused  to  be  com- 
forted unless  they  were  on  the  warpath  all  the 
time.  Their  ideal  of  a soldier’s  life  was  to  take 
a rebel  battery  every  morning  before  breakfast, 
storm  a line  of  works  to  give  them  an  appetite 
for  dinner,  and  spend  the  afternoon  charging  with 
cold  steel  the  serried  columns  of  the  k>e,  and  wad- 
ing around  through  seas  of  gore. 


208 


SI  KLEGQ. 


So  Corporal  Klegg  and  Shorty  and  the  Jk 
the  boys  betook  themselves  with  alacrity  to  the 
work  of  preparation  for  the  duties  of  tne  morrow. 
Members  of  the  other  companies  patched  the 
proceedings  with  jealous  eye.  l/hey  almost 
turned  green  with  envy  because  they  were  not 
detailed  for  the  expedition  instead  oi  Co.  Q. 

“Say,  Si,”  remarked  Shorty,  thoughtfully, 
“hadn’t  we  better  write  a letter  home?  Who 
knows  but  we’ll  be  as  dead  as  mackerels  to- 
morrer  night!” 

“Fiddlesticks!”  said  Si.  “What’s  the  use  o’ 
havin’  a funeral  afore  there’s  any  borpse!  We’ve 
bin  through  one  fight  ’n’  didn’t  git  hurt,  ’n’  I’ve 
made  up  my  mind  there’s  no  use  gittin’  into  a 
Stew  over  a thing  that  may  hap’n  ’n’  may  not. 
Time  ’nuff  to  fret  ’bout  it  when  it  comes.  I 
recolleck  one  thing  I learned  in  Sunday-school — 
let’s  see,  iV  was  ‘S’ficient  unto  the  day  is  the 
evil  thereof/  or  suthin’  like  that.  Strikes  me 
that’s  a good  passidge  o’  Scripter  fer  a soldier  to 
keep  pamroi  in  his  hat.  I ain’t  goin’  ter  hang 
back  fer  fear  a bullit  ’ll  hit  me,  nuther.  If  we’re 
goki*  to  be.  killed  we  can’t  help  it,  so  let’s  not 
Iret  our  gisz*ards!”  And  Si  crammed  a handful 
of  hardtack  into  his  haversack. 

Si’s  cheery  view  of  the  case  was  not  without  its 
effect  upon  Shorty.  Indeed,  it  cannot  be  denied 
that  there  was  a great  deal  of  common  sense  in 
his  homely,  good-natured  philosophy.  Sooner 


A CLOSE  CALL. 


209 


or  later  every  soldier  who  dirl  not  “peter  out” 
came  gradually  to  adopt  Si’s  idea  as  the  govern- 
ing principle  of  his  military  career. 

“Shouldn’t  wonder  if  you  was  ’bout  right,  after 
all,”  said  Shorty,  as  he  sliced  up  some  bacon  to 
have  it  ready  for  an  early  breakfast.  “You’re 
better’u  medicine,  Si,  to  a feller  w’at  gits  the 
blues  sometimes!” 

The  preparations  were  soon  made,  and  Co.  Q 
went  to  bed  early.  In  the  morning  the  Orderly 
came  around  and  stirred  the  boys  up  an  hour 
before  reveille,  as  they  were  ordered  to  be  ready 
to  start  at  daylight.  The  primary  object  of  the 
expedition  was  forage  for  the  animals,  the  sup- 
ply of  which  had  run  short.  Besides  this,  each 
man  had  a secondary  purpose,  and  that  was  to 
gather  in  something  on  his  own  hook  that  would 
satisfy  his  longing  for  a change  from  the  regula- 
tion diet.  This  was  always  the  unwritten  part  ot 
the  oftier  to  “go  out  foraging.” 

Daylight  was  just  streaking  over  the  camp 
when  Co.  Q,  equipped  in  light  marching  order, 
leaving  knapsacks  behind,  moved  ro  where 
the  half  dozen  wagons  detailed  from  the  regi- 
mental transportation  were  ready  for  the  start. 
Each  regiment  in  the  brigade  furnished  a com- 
pany and  the  same  number  of  wagons.  The  im- 
patient mules  were  braying  and  flapping  their 
ears,  as  if  they  understood  that  they  were  to  be 
the  chief  beneficiaries  of  the  laid 


CONFISCATING  THE  CONTENTS  OF 


A CLOSE  CALL, 


211 


“Pile  in,  Boys!”  said  the  Orderly,  and  they 
clambered  into  the  wagons.  The  guards  were 
permitted  to  ride  until  there  were  symptoms  of 
danger. 

Then  the  muleteers,  bestriding  the  big  “wheel- 
ers,” cracked  their  long  whips  like  pistol-shots, 
addressed  to  the  mules  the  usual  words  of  exhor- 
tation, and  the  long  procession  drew  out  upon 
the  stony  pike  and  took  a brisk  trot.  Consider- 
able foraging  had  already  been  done  in  the  vicin- 
ity, and  it  was  expected  the  train  would  have  to 
go  out  several  miles  in  order  to  fully  accomplish 
its  object.  The  boys  were  in  fine  spirits  and  en- 
joyed their  morning  ride,  albeit  the  jolting  of  the 
wagons  gave  them  a thorough  shaking  up. 

“I  guess  they  forgot  to  put  any  springs  in  when 
they  built  these  wagons!”  said  Shorty,  as  he 
shifted  his  position  so  that  he  might  catch  the 
bumps  in  a new  place  for  a while. 

“Jest  thinkm*  that  way  myself,”  replied  Si; 
“but  all  the  same,  it  beats  traylm*  on  the  hoof 
all  holler!” 

Three  or  four  miles  out  from  camp  the  train  was 
halted  while  the  officers  in  command  made  in- 
quiries of  a cadaverous  native  w$lo  was  sunning 
himself  on  the  fence  and  whose  principal  oc- 
cupation seemed  to  be  chewing  tobacco  and  dis- 
tributing the  resultant  liquid  around  in  a pro- 
mi  scucus  way.  , , ■ \ 


212 


SI  KLEGG. 


“Good  morning,  stranger/'*  said  tlie  officer; 
“have  you  any  corn  on  your  place?” 

“Haint  got  a dog-goned  ear  left!”  was  the  surly 
answer.  “Some  o’  you-unses  men  wuz  out  here 
yisterdy  ’n’  tuk  every  bit  1 hed.” 

This  may  or  may  not  have  been  true.  In- 
quiries of  this  nature  always  developed  the  fact 
that  it  was  a man’s  neighbors  who  had  plenty  of 
corn ; he  never  had  any  himself. 

“Ther’s  ole  man  Scroggs,”  he  continued;  “he 
lives  a matte:  of  two  miles  from  hyar.  I ’low 
ye’ll  git  sum  if  ye  go  thar.  He  growed  a power 
o’  cawn  this  yeah;  he  sold  a heap,  but  I reckon 
he’s  got  a right  smart  left.” 

During  this  time  a couple  of  men  had  been 
making  a hasty  examination  of  the  outbuildings 
on  the  place.  They  reported  that  they  could  find 
nothing  in  the  of  forage.  If  the  man  had 

any  corn  he  had  carefully  concealed  it.  The  train 
started  on  to  pay  a visit  to  old  man  Scroggs.” 
“Say,  old  pard,”  acked  Si  as  his  wagon  drove 
past,  “is  there  any  rebs  ’round  here?” 

“There  wuz  a few  Confedrit  critter-men  ridin’ 
*hmit  hya~  this  rn^wnin’; — mebby  ye’ll  run  agin 
'em  ’afore  night  ” 

“Hvw  many  o’  your  boys  is  among  emf” 

“We’uns  is  all  Union.” 

“Jest  as  long  as  we’re  ’round,  I s’pose!”  said 

Si 


A CLOSE  CALL. 


213 

A mile  further  on  those  who  were  in  the  lead 
rising  to  the  crest  of  a hill,  saw — or  thought  they 
saw — a few  vagrant  cavalrymen  far  ahead.  The 
train  was  halted  and  dispositions  were  made  to 
meet  any  emergency  likely  to  arise.  The  men 
were  ordered  to  ‘tumoie  out"  of  the  wagons.  The 
main  body  was  formed  in  advance.  A line  of 
skirmishers  was  deployed  in  front  and  flankers 
were  thrown  out  on  either  side.  Thus  protected, 
the  mule  drivers  again  cracked  their  whips  and 
the  procession  moved  cautiously  forward. 

“Now  keep  yer  eyes  skinned,”  said  Si  to  Shorty 
as  they  trailed  along  through  the  woods  and 
fields  and  over  fences,  on  one  of  the  flanks.  * If 
any  of  them  raskils  comes  dodgin’  ’round  here 
let’s  try  ’n’  have  the  first  crack  at  ’em  ’n’  git 
the  bulge  on  the  rest  o’  the  boys 5” 

Keenly  alert,  with  muskets  loaded  and  capped, 
they  crept  carefully  along,  poking  their  noses 
into  every  thicket  and  peering  around  every  build- 
ing. It  was  clear  that  there  would  not  be  any- 
thing in  the  nature  of  a surprise  if  the  whole  line 
was  as  well  taken  care  of  as  the  particular  point 
guarded  by  Corporal  Klegg  and  his  faithful  friend 
Shorty. 

“It’s  some  like  huntin’  squirrels  up  fn  the 
woods  of  Posey  County,  ain’t  it,  Shorty?”  said  Si, 
as  they  forced  their  way  through  a patch  ot 
brambles. 


214 


SI  KLEGG. 


“Wall,  yes,”  replied  Shorty;  “but  this  ’pears  to 
be  rayther  more  excitin’.  Ye  know  squirrels 
doesn’t  shute  back  at  a feller  like  them  pesky 
rebbles  does,  an’  the  fun  ’s  all  on  one  side.  I 


feckon  ef  squirrels  c’d  shute  there  wouldn’t  be  so 
much  huntin’  of  ’em!” 

It  was  really  a disappointment  to  Si  that  he 
found  no  oppuitunitv  to  squint  along  the  barrel 


A CLOSE  CALL. 


215 

©f  his  musket  in  range  of  a foe.  If  any  of  his 
misguided  fellow-citizens  were  in  the  neighbor- 
hood they  considered  discretion  the  better  part  of 
valor  and  kept  out  of  harm’s  way. 

In  due  time  the  Scroggs  plantation  was  reached.  . 
A hasty  examination  showed  that  there  was  an 
abundance  of  corn  on  the  place  to  load  the 
wagons,  and  arrangements  for  a sudden  transfer 
of  the  property  were  quickly  made.  A third  of 
the  force  established  a cordon  of  picket-posts 
around  the  marauding  party,  covering  all  the 
avenues  of  approach,  with  reserves  at  convenient 
points.  The  remainder  of  the  troops  stacked 
arms  and  entered  briskly  upon  the  work  of  con- 
fiscation. 

Pa/t  of  the  harvest  had  already  been  gathered, 
and  the  first  assault  was  made  on  a well-filled 
corn-house— one  of  a group  of  dilapidated  oni r 
buildings  a little  way  from  the  dwelling.  “Old 
man”  Scroggs  protested  with  profane  vehc-ne^oe, 
reinforced  by  the  “old  woman”  and  the  entire 
family  of  children.  We  say  “entire  family.”  be- 
cause there  could  not  well  have  been  a mort 
numerous  progeny  in  one  household  anywhere 
outside  of  Utah. 

The  head  of  the  £a***?3y  cursed  and  swore,  and 
his  wife  and  the  big  girls  looked  as  if  they  wanted 
to  do  the  same  thing,  as  they  stood  wringing 
their  hands,  their  eyes  flashing  fire:  while  the 
small-fry  stood  around  and  sobbed  with  % vague 


216 


SI  KLEGG. 


idea  that  some  dire  calamity  had  Befallen  them. 

The  old  Kentuckian  declared  that  he  was  a 
"Union  man,”  and  that  he  would  demand  of  the 
Government  full  revenge  for  thi3  outrage.  It  was 
noticed  that  there  were  no  young  men  around  as 
there  should  be  according  to  the  economy  of 
nature,  to  preserve  the  balance  of  sex  in  so  large 
a family.  The  officer  in  command  asked  him 
where  all  his  sons  were. 

"Wall,  I kaint  tell  yer  ’zactly  whar  they  is,” 
was  the  reply.  “They  ain’t  to  hum  jest  now.  I 
Tow  they’ve  got  a right  to  g’wayef  they  want  ter.” 

The  officer  had  been  informed  that  there  were 
several  representatives  of  the  Scroggs  family  in 
the  rebel  army.  The  old  man’s  avowal  of  loyalty 
was  taken  for  what  it  was  worth.  That  it  was 
not  rated  at  a high  figure  was  well  attested  by 
the  appearance  of  the  plantation  a few  hours 
later. 

Meanwhile  the  soldiers  kept  right  along  in  the 
dvLvy  arraigned  them.  The  corn-house  was  sur- 
rounded by  wagons,  the  roof  was  gently  lifted  off, 
and  in  scarcely  more  time  than  it  takes  to  tell  the 
story  six  or  eight  of  the  wagons  were  heaped  with 
the  contents.  The  mules  vragged  their  tails  and 
braVed  in  anticipation  of  the  picnic  they  would 
have  when  they  got  back  to  camp. 

Then  the  force  moved  some  distance  and  at- 
tacked a large  field  of  standing  corn.  The  stalks 
had  been  “topped,”  but  the  ears  were  yet  un- 


A CLOSE  CALL. 


217 


gathered.  The  men  started  in  between  the  rows 
and  swept  through  that  held  like  a cyclone, 
plucking  the  ears  right  and  left.  Bags,  baskets 
and  boxes  were  pressed  into  the  service,  and  as 
there  were  not  enough  of  these  to  go  round  many 
bore  the  corn  to  the  wagons  by  armfuls.  It  did 
not  take  more  than  two  or  three  hours  to  strip 
every  ear  from  the  field.  A visitation  of  over- 
grown Kansas  grasshoppers  could  not  have  done 
a more  thorough  job. 

“Fo’  de  Lawd,  boss,”  said  an  old  darky  who 
‘^ad  been  roosting  on  the  fence  watching  the 
spoilers,  “I  nebber  seed  de  crap  gaddered  so  quick 
since  Pse  bawn.  Yova-uns  all  is  powerful  smart, 
dat’s  shuah!” 

But  where  were  Corporal  Klegg  and  his  com- 
rade, Shorty,  while  all  tbis  was  going  on? 

They  had  been  stationed  as  sentinels  near  a 
house,  half  a mile  beyond,  on  the  pike.  They 
were  cautioned  to  keep  a sharp  lookout,  and  for  a 
time  they  obeyed  their  instructions  to  Jhe  letter. 
Their  vigilant  eyes  swept  the  surrounding  country, 
and  no  rebel  could  have  crept  up  on  them  with- 
out getting  a pair  of  bullets  from  their  ready 
muskets.  They  saw  no  signs  uf  an  enemy,  and 
after  a while  it  began  to  grow  monotonous. 

“Shorty,”  said  Si,  “I  don’t  b’lieve  there’s  any 
seceshers  in  these  parts,  an’  there  ain’t  any  use’n 
us  both  keepin’  this  thing  up.  You  jest  watch 


218 


SI  KLEGG. 


out  awhile  ’n’  I’ll  skin  around  ’n’  see  what  I kin 
find.” 

Shorty  agreed  to  this,  taking  it  as  an  order 
from  his  superior  officer.  Si  threw  his  gun  up  to 
a “right  . shoulder  shift”  and  started  off,  after 
again  urging  upon  his  companion  the  importance 
of  attending  strictly  to  business. 

Si  had  not  gone  far  till  he  saw,  penned  in  a 
corner  of  the  barnyard,  a cow  with  a full  udder, 
from  which  a frisky  young  calf  was  busily  en- 
gaged in  pumping  nourishment.  A violent  feel- 
ing of  envy  toward  that  calf  began  immediately 
to  rage  in  the  breast  of  Si.  He  had  no*  had  a 
draft  of  fresh  milk  since  he  had  left  home,  and 
he  felt  that  a little  refreshment  of  that  kind 
would  be  particularly  gratifying  to  his  interior 
organism.  It  would  strengthen  him  and  give  him 
new  courage  to  stand  up  to  the  rack  if  they 
should  happen  to  get  into  a fight. 

“J  say,  Shorty,”  he  called,  “cummere  a minnit, 
quick?*  v 

Si's  conscience  smote  him  for  calling  Shorty 
from  hi^  duty  and  leaving  the  post  unguarded, 
but  the  temptation  was  too  strong  for  him  to  re- 
sist, and  he  yielded  to  the  impulse  to  take  the 
chances.  Shorty  came  on  the  run,  with  eyes  wide 
''pen,  thinking  his  comrade  had  discovered  some 
rebels  hanging  around. 

“Look  there!”  said  Si,  pointing  to  tne  maternal 
ftcene  that  has  been  alluded  to.  “Tret’s  have 


A CLOSE  CALL. 


219 


some  o’  that.  We’ll  git  over  the  fence  ’n’  you 
jest  hold  the  calf  while  I milk  our  canteens  full. 
’Twont  take  more’n  a jiffy!” 

“We  ort  n’t  to  leave  the  post,  had  we?”  su^ 
gested  Shorty 


“Oh,  there  ain’t  no  danger, n Si  .replied;  “an% 
besides,  you  can  keep  lookin’  *>ut  while  you're 
hangin’  on  to  the  calf.  I was  allers  a good  milker 
’n’  I’ll  fill  up  these  canteens  in  a couple  ©*  min- 
nits  * 

So  they  climbed  over  and  leaned  their  muskets 


220 


BI  KLEGG. 


agr-msi  the  fence.  Shorty  seized  the  calf  and 
held  it  with  a linn  grip,  in  spite  of  its  struggling 
and  Idea ;ing.  The  cow  seemed  disposed  at  first 
resent  the  interference,  but  Si’  s persuasive 
b ss\  !”  ] , . d effectual  in  calming  her  fears, 
ar  <1  she  stood  placidly  chewing  her  cud  while  Si, 
spurred  on  by  a guilty  conscience,  milked  with 
ah  his  might. 

The  canteens  were  soon  filled,,  and,  without 
stepping  to  drink,  Si  and  Shorty  hurried  back  to 
their  posi  of  duty.  All  was  quiet,  and  no  harm 
had  resulted  from  their  brief  absence. 

“I  told  ye  ’twould  be  all  right,”  said  Si.  “Now, 
we’ll  jest  empty  one  o’  these  canteens— here, 
take  a swig — ’nJ  we’ll  carry  the  other  to  camp. 
HT1  lx*  jest  bully  to  have  milk  in  our  coffee  agin!” 

Then  they  betook  themselves  to  duty  with  re- 
doubled vigilance,  to  attone  for  their  derelictions. 
After  watching  for  an  hour  without  seeing  any- 
thing, Si  said  he  would  take  another  little  turn 
arouc.T  the  place. 

Bofdly  advancing  to  the  house,  which  was 
some  distance  in  front  of  their  post,  he  was  met 
by  a girl  of  alWut  18.  She  was  rather  pretty,  but 
to  Si's  ardent  imagination  she  was  like  a vision 
at  surpassing  loveliness.  She  greeted  him  pleas- 
antly— for  Si  was  a comely  youth — and,  if  the 
truth  must  be  told,  he  actually  forgot  for  the 
moment  all  about  his  duty.  When  she  said  she 
would  get  him  a good  dinner,  and  invited  him 


A CLOSE  CALL  221 

into  the  house  to  sit  while  she  prepared  it,  he 
just  went  right  along. 

But  his  conscience  began  to  thump  so  loudly 
that  after  a few  minutes  he  told  her  he  guessed 
he’d  have  to  go,-  but  would  be  delighted  to  return 
in  an  hour  and  partake  of  her  hospitality. 

“May  I bring  Shorty — he’s  my  pard — ’long  with 
me?”  he  timidly  asked. 

“Certainly!”  she  replied,  with  a sweet  smile; 
and  Si  went  away,  his  nerves  tingling  with 
pleasant  emotions  to  the  very  tips  of  his  fingers. 

“Shorty,”  he  said,  as  he  came  up  to  the  latter, 
“I’ve  struck  it  this  time  Over  to  that  house 
there’s  the  purtiest  gal  I ever” 

“Wha-a-a-a-t!”  interjected  Shorty,  with  a look 
of  astonishment;  for  he  knew  something  about 
Si  and  Annabel — the  girl  he  left  behind  him 
and  he  was  both  surprised  and  pained  at  Si’s 
treasonable  enthusiasm. 

Si  easily  divined  his  thoughts,  for  something  of 
the  same  nature  had  already  caused  his  own 
heart  to  palpitate  in  a reproving  way. 

“Of  -c-c-course — 1 d-d-don ’t-  mean  th-th  'hat, 
Shorty,”  he  stammered;  but  she’s  a nice  girl, 
anyhow,  ’n’  she’s  gittin’  up  a dinner  fer  me  ’n’ 
you.  Bet  ye  it’ll  be  a nice  lay  out  too!5* 

Shorty  did  not  feel  quite  at  ease  in  his  mind 
about  leaving  the  post  again,  put  Si  assure 
it  would  be  all  right.  The  peculiar  circumstances 
of  the  case  had  sadly  warped  Si’s  judgment. 


222 


SI  KLEGG. 


So  they  went  to  the  house  and  were  cordially 
greeted  by  their  fair  young  hostess,  who  was  fly- 
ing around,  putting  the  finishing  touches  to  the 
meal  she  had  prepared  for  them. 


T3EE  SOUTHERN  CONFEDERACY  GETS  LEFT. 


“Jiminy,  don’t  that  smell  good?”  said!  Si  to 
Shorty  in  an  undertone,  as  his  sensitive  nostrils 
caught  the  savory  odors  that  arose  from  the 
nicely-spread  board. 


A CLOSE  CALL. 


223 


The  young  Hoosiers  stood  their  guns  on  the 
floor  in  a corner  of  the  room,  preliminary  to  an 
assault  on  the  edibles. 

“Ugh!”  exclaimed  the  young  woman,  with  a 
coquettish  shiver,  “be  them  awful  things  loaded?” 

“N — no!”  said  Si;  “they  won’t  hurt  ye  if  ye  don’t 
touch  ’em!” 

Si  was  learning  to  fib  a little,  and  he  wanted  to 
quiet  the  girl’s  fears. 

The  boys  were  soon  seated  at  the  table,  boun- 
tifully supplied  with  ham,  chicken,  eggs,  bread 
and  butter,  honey,  and  all  the  accessories  of  a 
well-ordered  repast.  They  fell  to  with  an  eager- 
ness that  was,  perhaps,  justified  by  the  long 
time  that  had  elapsed  since  they  had  had  a 
“square  meal.”  Si  thought  that  never  in  his  life 
had  anything  tasted  so  good 

While  they  were  thus  engaged,  without  a 
thought  of  impending  danger,  the  girl  suddenly 
opened  the  door  leading  into  an  adjoining  room. 
A young  man — who  proved  to  be  her  brother — in 
the  uniform  of  a rebel  soldier,  dashed  in,  and, 
presenting  a cocked  revolver,  demanded  t^eir 
unconditional  and  immediate  surrender. 

They  were  in  a tight  place.  But  Si  proved  o 
to  the  sudden  and  appalling  emergency  it 
flashed  through  his  mind  in  an  instant  how  the 
girl  had  “played  it”  on  him.  He  made  up  his  mind 
that  he  would  rather  be  shot  than  be  captured 
under  such  circumstances. 


224 


El  KLEGGL 


Si  sprang  up,  and  the  rebel,  true  to  his  word, 
fired.  Si  dodged,  and  the  ball  only  chipped  a 
piece  from  his  left  ear.  There  was  not  time  to 
get  and  use  his  gun.  With  the  quickness  of  a 
cat  Si  sprang  upon  him,  and  with  a blow  of  his 
fist  laid  him  sprawling  upon  the  floor.  Disarm- 
ing him,  he  placed  the  revolver  at  his  head  and 
triumphantly  exclaimed: 

“Now,  gaul  dum  ye,  you’re  my  prisoner.  I’d 
like  to  blow  the  top  o’  yer  head  off  fer  spilin’  my 
dinner,  but  I won’t  do  it  this  time.  But  you  jist 
git  up  ’n’  come  ’long  with  me!” 

With  his  complete  mastery  of  the  situation, 
Si’s  confidence  returned,  and  Shorty,  who  had 
been  dazed  and  helpless  at  first,  recovered  him- 
self and  came  to  his  assistance. 

But  at  this  instant  their  ears  caught  the  sound 
horses’  hoofs  galloping  down  the  pike.  Si’s 
quick  perception  told  him  that  it  was  a dash  of 
rebel  cavalrymen,  and  that  a few  moments  later 
escape  would  be  impossible. 

'‘Grab  yer  gun  an’  git!”  he  said  to  Shorty,  at 
,ne  same  time  casting  one  ferocious  glance  at 
terrified  gift,  who  stood,  white  and  speechless, 
.-j^mplabng  the  scene. 

hi  and  Shorty  dashed  out  of  the  house  and 
stated  lor  thk  reserve,  at  die  highest  ?peed  of 
which  their  legs  were  capable.  On  clattered  the 
horses,  and  a few  shots  from  the  carbines  of  the 
switt-riding  horsemen  whistled  through  the  air. 


A CLOSE  CALL. 


225 


Six  feet  at  a jump,  with  thumping  hearts  and 
bulging  eyes,  the  fugitives  almost  flew  over  the 
ground,  throwing  quick  glances  back  at  their 
pursuers,  and  then  ahead,  in  the  hope  of  catching 
a glimpse  of  succor. 


’Shorty,  if  we only  g$t out  o’  this ” 

but  Si  found  he  hadn’t  any  wind  to  spare  to 
finish  the  sentence.  We  must  leave  to  the 
reader’s  imagination  the  good  resolutions  as  to 


226 


SI  KLEiGrGk 


his  future  conduct  that  were  fl  ting  in  Si’s  mind 
at  this  critical  juncture.  He  saw  the  awful  con- 
sequences of  yielding  to  the  influence  of  that  al- 
luring young  woman  and  her  seductive  dinner. 
What  he  had  read  about  Adam  and  the  trouble 
Eve  got  him  into,  in  pretty  much  the  same  way, 
flashed  before  him.  It  was  a good  time  to  resolve 
that  he  wouldn’t  do  so  any  more. 

Shorty,  long  and  lank,  was  swifter  on  his  feet 
than  Si.  Hardtack  and  bacon  had  not  yet  re- 
duced the  latter’s  surplus  flesh  to  a degree  that 
enabled  him  to  run  well.  Shorty  kept  ahead,  but 
would  not  desert  his  comrade,  slowing  up  for  an 
instant  now  and  then  to  give  Si,  who  was  strain- 
ing to  the  utmost  every  nerve,  and  puffing  like  a 
locomotive  on  an  up  grade,  a chance  to  keep 
within  supporting  distance. 

The  soldiers  of  the  reserve  taking  the  alarm, 
came  out  at  a double-quick  and  were  fortunately 
able  to  cover  the  retreat  of  Si  and  Shorty.  The 
half  dozen  cavalrymen,  upon  the  appearance  of 
so  large  a force,  turned  their  horses  and  galloped 
away. 

“Iloilo.  Si,”  said  tW  Orderly  of  Co.  Q,  “yer  epr’s 
bloodin’.  What  hurt  ye?” 

“Fell  down  and  scratched  it  on  a brier!”  said 
Si,  as  soon  as  he  was  able  to  speak. 

That  night  Si  and  Shorty  sat  on  a log  by  the 
campfire  talking  over  the  events  of  the  day. 


A CLOSE  CALL. 


227 


"Don’t  ye  never  blow  on  this  thing,”  said  Si. 
"It’ll  be  a cold  day  for  us  if  they’d  find  it  out.” 
"There  ain’t  no  danger  o’  my  tellin’,”  replied 
Shorty.  "But,  say,  ain’t  that  a nice  girl  out 
there?” 

"She’s  a mean  rebel,  that’s  what  she  is!  But 
that  was  a smart  trick  o’  her’n,  wasn’t  it?” 
"Come  mighty  near  bein’  too  smart  fer  us!” 
replied  Shorty.  "I  don’t  want  no  more  such 
close  shaves  in  mine.  You  ’member  the  story  of 
the  spider  and  the  fly,  don’t  ye?  Wall,  she  was 
the  spider  ’n’  we  was  two  poor  little  fool  flies!” 
"Shorty,”  said  Si,  "I’d  a mighty  sight  ruther  be 
an  angel  an’  have  the  daisies  a-bloomin’  over 
my  grave,  than  to  have  been  tuk  a pris’ner  in  that 
house.  But  that  dinner  waa  good,  anyhow — 
what  we  got  of  it!” 


228 


BI  KLEGG. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


“THE  SWEET  SABBATH  ” — HOW  THE  BLESSED  DAT  OF 
REST  WAS  SPENT  IN  THE  ARMY. 

“To-morrow’s  Sunday,  ye  know,”  said  the 
Orderly  of  Company  Q one  Saturday  night  at  roll- 
call. 

This  was  in  the  nature  of  news  to  the  boys. 
But  for  the  announcement  very  few  of  them 
would  have  known  it.  The  Orderly  was  not  dis- 
tinguished for  his  piety,  and  it  is  not  likely  that 
the  approach  of  Sunday  would  have  occurred  to 
him  if  the  Sergeant-Major  had  not  come  around 
with  orders  from  the  Colonel  for  a proper 
observance  of  the  day.  The  Colonel  himself 
would  not  have  thought  of  it  either,  if  the  Chap- 
lain had  not  reminded  him  of  it.  Everybody 
wondered  how  even  the  Chaplain  . old  keep 
track  of  the  days  well  enough  to  know  when  Sun- 
day came — but  that  was  chiefly  what  he  wore 
shoulder-straps  and  drew  his  salary  for.  It  was 
the  general  impression  that  he  either  carried  an 
almanac  in  his  pocket,  or  else  a stick  in  wrhich 
he  cut  a notch  every  day  with  his  jack-knife, 
and  in  that  way  managed  to  know  when  a new 
week  began. 


“THE  SWEET  SABBATH.” 


229 


"There’ll  be  guard-mountin’  at  9 o’clock,”  con- 
tinued the  Orderly,  “regimental  inspection  at  10, 
preachin’  at  11,  an’  dress-parade  at  5 in  the  even- 
in’. All  of  ye  wants  to  tumble  out  right  promp’ly 
at  revellee  an’  git  yer  breakfast,  an’  then  clean 
up  yer  guns  an’  put  all  yer  traps  in  apple-pie 
order,  ’cause  the  Colonel’s  goin’  to  look  at  ’em. 
Tie’s  got  sharp  eyes,  an’  I reck’n  he’ll  be  mighty 
pertickler.  If  there’s  anything  that  ain’t  jest 
right  he’ll  see  it  quicker’n  litenin’.  Ye  know  we 
hain’t  had  any  inspections  yet,  an’  the  Cap’n 
wants  us  to  be  the  boss  company.  So  ye’ve  got 
to  scratch  around  lively  in  the  mornin’.” 

“Say,  Shorty,”  said  Corporal  Klegg,  after  the 
company  had  broken  ranks,  “seems  to  me  there 
wa’n’t  no  use  in  the  Orderly  tellin’  us  to  ‘scratch 
around,’  fer  we’re  doin’  that  purty  much  all  the 
time,  now  that  the  graybacks  is  gittin;  in  their 
work  on  us.” 

Shorty  smiled  faintly  at  what  he  seemed  to 
consider  a rather  feeble  joke,*  even  for  Si. 

The  200th  Ind.  had  been  in  the  field  three 
or  tour  weeks,  but  it  had  been  continually  can- 
tering about  the  country,  and  the  Generals  had 
kept  it  particularly  active  on  Sundays.  Probably 
this  regiment  did  not  manilest  any  more  than  the 
average  degree  of  enthusiasm  and  fervor  in  re- 
ligious matters,  but  there  were  many  in  its  ranks 
who,  at  home,  had  always  sat  under  Gospel 
ministrations,  and  to  tramp  on  Sundays,  the 


230 


SI  KLEGG. 


same  as  other  days,  was,  at  first,  a rude  shock 
to  their  moral  sensibilities.  These  were  yet  keen; 
the  edges  had  not  been  worn  off  and  blunted  and 
battered  by  the  hard  knocks  of  army  life.  True, 
they  could  scarcely  tell  when  Sunday  came,  but 
they  knew  that  they  kept  right  along  every  day. 

“Shorty,”  said  Si,  after  they  had  curled  up 
under  the  blanket  for  the  night,  “’pears  to  me 
it’ll  seem  sort  o’  nice  to  keep  Sunday  agin.  At 
the  rate  we’ve  bin  goin’  on  we’ll  all  be  heathens 
by  the  time  we  git  home — if  we  ever  do.  Our 
Chaplain  haint  had  no  chance  to  preachify  yet. 
The  boys  of  Comp’ny  X,  w’at  knows  him,  says 
he’s  a staver,  ’n’  I b’lieve  it’ll  make  us  all  feel 
better  to  have  him  talk  to  us  once.  ’Twont  do  us 
no  harm,  nohow.  I’d  like  to  be  home  to-morrer 
’n’  go  to  church  with  mother,  ’n’  sister  Marier, 
,n> — er — I mean  the  rest  of  the  folks.  Then  I’d 
jest  eat  all  the  afternoon.  I ain’t  goin’  ter  git 
homesick,  Shorty;  but  a feller  can’t  help  feelin’ 
a little  streaked  once  ’n’  a while.  Mebbe  it’s  a 
good  idee  fer  ’em  to  keep  us  on  the  jump,  fer  then 
we  don’t  git  no  chance  to  think  ’bout  it.  I don’t 
suppose  I’m  the  only  boy  ’n  the  regiment  that ’d 
be  glad  to  git  a furlow  jest  fer  to-morrer.  I sh'd 
want  ter  be  back  bright  ’n’  arly  to  fall  in  Monday 
mornin’,  fer  I’m  goin’  to  stick  to  the  200th  through 
thick  ’n’  thin,  if  I don’t  git  knocked  out.  Say, 
Shorty,  how  d’ye  feel,  any  way?” 


“THE  SWEET  SABBATH.”  231 

But  Shorty  was  already  fast  asleep.  Si  spooned 
up  to  him  and  was  soon,  in  his  dreams,  away  up 
in  Posey  County. 

The  sound  of  the  bugle  and  drum,  at  daylight, 
fell  upon  unwilling  ears,  for  the  soldiers  felt 
the  same  indisposition  to  get  up  early  Sunday 
morning  that  is  everywhere  one  of  the  charac- 
teristics of  modern  civilization.  Their  beds  were 
hard,  but  to  their  weary  limbs  no  couch  of  down 
ever  gave  more  welcome  rest  than  did  the  rough 
ground  on  which  they  lay.  But  the  wild  yell  of 
the  Orderly,  “Turn  out  for  roll-call!”  with  the 
thought  of  the  penalties  for  non-obedience— 
which  some  of  them  had  abundant  reason  to  re- 
member— quickly  brought  out  the  laggards. 

Si  and  Shorty  were,  as  usual,  among  the  first 
to  take  their  places  in  line.  They  were  pleasantly 
greeted  by  the  Captain,  who  had  come  qut  on  the 
run  at  the  last  moment,  and  wriggled  himself 
into  his  coat  as  he  strode  along  the  company 
street.  The  Captain  did  not  very  often  appear  at 
morning  roll-call.  But  one  officer  of  the  com- 
pany was  required  to  be  present,  and  the  Cap- 
tain generally  loaded  this  duty  upon  the  Lieu- 
tenants “turn  about.”  If  he  did  show  up,  he  would 
go  back  to  bed  and  snooze  for  an  hour  while  the 
cook  was  getting  breakfast.  If  one  of  the  men  did 
that  he  would  soon  be  promenading  with  a rail* 
on  his  shoulder  or  standing  on  a barrel  with  a 
Stick  or  a bayonet  tied  in  his  mouth 


SI  KLEGGk 


232 

“I  think  that’s  a fust  rate  notion  to  mount  the 
guards,”  said  Si  to  Shorty  as  they  sat  on  a rail 
by  the  fire  making  coffee  and  frying  bacon.  “It’ll 
be  so  much  better  ’n  walkin’  back  ’n’  forrard  on 
the  beats.  Wonder  ’f  they’ll  give  us  hosses  or 
mules  to  ride.” 

“I’d  like  to  know  what  put  that  idee  into  ye r 
head,”  said  Shorty. 

“Why,  didn’t  the  Ord’ly  say  last  night  there  ’d 
be  guard-mountin’  at  9 o’clock  this  mornin’? 
I s ’posed  that  fer  a man  to  be  mounted  meant 
straddlin’  a hoss  or  s ’mother  kind  of  an  animilv’ 

“Ain’t  ye  never  goin’  to  lam  nuthin’,”  said 
Shorty,  with  a laugh.  Guard-mountin’  don’t 
mean  fer  the  men  to  git  on  hosses.  It’s  only  the 
name  they  gives  it  in  the  Army  Reggeiations. 
Dunno  why  they  calls  it  that,  ’nless  it’s  ’cause 
the  guards  has  to  ’mount’  anybody  that  tries  to 
pass  ’thout  the  countersign.  But  don’t  ye  fool 
yerself  with  thinkin’  yer  goin’  to  git  to  ride, 
^e’ll  keep  pluggin’  along  afoot,  on  guard'or  any- 
where else,  same  we  have  all  the  time.” 

Thus  rudely  was  shattered  another  of  Si  Klegg’s 
bright  illusions. 

The  whole  regiment  turned  out  to  witness  the 
ceremony  of  guard-mounting.  It  was  the  first 
time  the  exigencies  of  the  campaign  had  per- 
mitted the  200th  lnd.  to  do  this  in  regula- 
tion style.  The  Adjutant  was  the  most  important 
personage,  and  stood  so  straight  that  he  nar- 


“THE  SWEBt  SABBATH.” 


233 


The  next  thing  on  the  program  for  the  day  was 
the  inspection.  The  boys  had  been  industriously 
engaged  in  cleaning  up  their  muskets  and  ac- 
couterments, and  gutting  their  scanty  wardreber* 


rowly  escaped  falling  over  backward.  In  order 
to  guard  against  making  a mess  of  it,  he  had 
spent  half  the  night  rehearsing  the  various  com- 
mands in  his  tent.  Thus  prepared,  he  managed 
to  get  through  it  in  very  fair  shape. 


" SIB,  THE  GUARD  ® FORMED!” 


234 


81  KLEGG. 


in  presentable  condition.  In  arranging  his  knap- 
sack for  the  Colonel’s  eye,  each  man  carefully 
laid  a clean  shirt,  if  he  had  one,  on  the  top.  The 
garments  that  were  not  clean  he  either  stowed 
away  in  the  tent  or  put  at  the  bottom  of  the  knap- 
sack. In  this  he  was  actuated  by  the  same 
principle  that  prompts  the  thrifty  farmer  to  put 
the  biggest  apples  and  strawberries  at  the  top  of 
his  measure. 

The  clothing  of  the  regiment  was  already  in  an 
advanced  stage  of  demoralization.  It  was  of  the 
“shoddy”  sort  that  a good  hard  wind  would  almost 
blow  to  pieces. 

Corporal  Klegg  was  anxious  that  not  only  his 
person,  but  all  his  belongings,  should  make  as 
good  an  appearance  as  possible.  He  put  on  the 
best  and  cleanest  garments  he  had,  and  then 
betook  himself  to  fixing  his  knapsack  so  it  would 
pass  muster 

“Them  duds  is  a bad  lot,”  he  said  to  Shorty, 
casting  rueful  glances  at  the  little  heap  of  soiled 
and  ragged  clothes.  “Purty  hard  to  make  a 
decent  show  with  them  things.” 

“Wait  a minutb,”  said  Shorty,  “an’  I’ll  show 
ye  a little  trick.” 

Taking  his  poncho  under  his  arm,  Shorty  went 
to  the  rear  of  the  camp,  where  the  mules  were 
feeding,  and  presently  retuned  with  a bunch  of 
hay 


“THE  SWEET  SABBATH.” 


235 


‘‘What  ye  goin,  to  do  with  that?”  asked  Si. 
“You  jest  do  ’s  I tell  ye,  and  don’t  ask  no 
questions.  Cram  some  o’  this  hay  into  yer  knap- 
sack ’n’  fill  ’er  up  ’n’  then  put  a shirt  or  suthin’, 
the  best  ye  kin  find,  on  top,  ’n’  the  Colonel  ’ll 
think  she’s  full  o’  clothes  right  from  the  laundry. 
I’m  goin’  to  fix  mine  that  way. 

“Shorty,  you’re  a trump!”  said  Si,  approvingly. 
“That  ’ll  be  a bully  s .heme.” 

It  required  but  a few  minutes  to  carry  out  the 
plan.  The  hay  was  stuffed  into  the  knapsacks, 
and  all  vagrant  spears  were  carefully  tucked  in. 

Then  a garment,  folded  so  as  to  conceal  its 
worst  features,  was  nicely  spread  over  the  hay, 
the  flaps  were  closed  and  buckled,  and  the 
young  Hoosiers  were  ready  for  inspection. 

“S’posen  the  Colonel  sh’d  take  a notion  to  go 
pokin’  down  into  them  knapsacks,”  said  Si; 
“don’t  ye  think  it’d  be  purty  cold  weather  for  us?” 
“P’r’aps  it  mout,”  answered  Shorty;  “but  we’ve 
got  ter  take  the  chances.  He’s  got  seven  or  eight 
hundred  knapsacks  to  ’nspect,  ’n’  I don’t  b’lieve 
he’ll  stick  his  nose  down  into  very  many  on  ’em!” 
At  the  appointed  time  the  battalion  was  formed 
and  the  inspection  was  gone  through  with  in 
good  style.  The  Colonel  and  the  field  and  staff 
officers,  escorted  by  the  Captain  of  each  suc- 
cessive company,  moved  grandly  between  the 
ranks,  their  swords  dangling  around  and  getting 
mixed  up  with  their  legs.  The  soldiers  stood 


◄ 


DAY  1T0I4  8H0STY. 


“THE  SWEET  SABBATH.” 


. 237 


facing  inward  like  so  many  wooden  men,  with 
their  open  knapsacks  lying  upon  the  ground  at 
their  feet.  The  Colonel  looked  sharply  right  and 
left,  stopping  now  and  then  to  commend  a soldier 
whose  “traps”  were  in  particularly  good  condi- 
tion, or  to  “go  for”  another  whose  'slouchy  ap- 
pearance betokened  untidy  habits.  If  a button 
was  missing,  or  a shoe  untied,  his  eye  was  keen 
to  detect  it,  and  a word  of  reproof  was  adminis- 
tered to  the  delinquent. 

As  the  Colonel  started  down  the  line  of  Company 
Q Si  watched  him  out  of  the  corners  of  his  eyes 
with  no  little  anxiety.  His  heart  thumped  as  he 
saw  him  occasionally  stoop  and  fumble  over  the 
contents  of  a knapsack,  evidently  to  test  the 
truth  of  Longfellow’s  declaration  that  “things  are 
not  what  they  seem.”  What  if  the  Colonel 
should  go  down  into  the  bowels  of  Si’s  knap- 
sack! Si  fairly  shuddered  at  the  thought. 

Si,  being  the  shortest  of  the  Corporals,  was  at 
the  foot  of  the  company,  while  Shorty,  on  ac- 
count of  his  hight,  was  well  up  toward  the 
head.  Si  almost  fainted  when  he  saw  the  Colo- 
nel stop  in  front  of  his  “pard”  and  make  an  ex- 
amination of  his  fat-looking  knapsack.  Military 
official  dignity  gave  way  when  the  removal  of 
the  single  garment  exposed  the  stuffing  of  hay. 
The  officers  burst  into  a laugh  at  the  unexpected 
revelation,  while  the  boys  on  either  side  almost 


238 


SI  KLEGG. 


exploded  m tlieir  enjoyment  of  Shorty’s  dis- 
comfiture. 

‘'Captain,”  said  the  Colonel,  with  as  much 
sternness  as  he  could  command,  “as  soon  as 
your  company  is  dismissed  detail  a guard  to  take 
charge  of  this  man.  Have  him  take  the  hay  out 
of  his  knapsack  and  nil  it  with  stones — and  see 
that  it  is  filled  full.  Have  this  man  put  it  on 
and  march  him  up  and  down  the  company 
street  till  church-call,  and  then  take  him  to  hear 
the  Chaplain.  He  needs  to  be  preached  to.  Per- 
haps, between  the  knapsack-drill  and  the  Chap- 
lain, we  can  straighten  him  out.” 

Corporal  Klegg  heard  all  this,  and  he  wished 
the  ground  might  open  and  swallow  him.  “These 
stripes  is  gone  this  time,  sure!”  he  said  to  him- 
self, as  he  looked  at  the  chevrons  on  his  arm. 
“But  there’s  no  use  givin’  ydurself  away,  Si. 
Brace  up,  ’n’  mebbe  the  Colonel  ’ll  skip  ye.” 

Si  had  been  badly  shaken  up  by  the  Colonel’s 
episode  with  Shorty,  but  by  a great  effort  he 
gathered  himself  together  and  was  at  his  best, 
externally,  when  the  Colonel  reached  him, 
though  his  thoughts  were  in  a raging  condition. 
His  face  was  clean  and  rosy,  and  his  general 
make-up  was  as  good  as  could  be  expected  un- 
der the  circumstances. 

The  Colonel  had  always  remembered  Si  as  the 
soldier  he  had  promoted  to  be  a Corporal  for  his 
gallantry  in  the  little  skirmish  a few  days  before. 


“THE  SWEET  SABBATH.” 


239 


As  he  came  up  he  greeted  the  Corporal  with  a 
smile  and  a nod  of  recognition.  He  was  evidently 
pleased  at  his  tidy  appearance.  He  cast  a glance 
at  the  voluptuous  knapsack,  and  Si’s  heart 
seemed  to  sink  away  down  into  his  shoes. 


CORPORAL  KLEGG,  THE  MODEL  SOLDIER. 

But  the  fates  smiled  on  Si  that  day.  The  Colo- 
nel turned  to  the  Captain  and  told  him  that  Cor- 
poral Klegg  was  the  model  soldier  of  Company  Q. 

Si  (He  happiest  man  in  the  universe  at  hat 


240 


SI  KLEGG. 


precise  moment.  It  was  not  on  account  of  the 
compliment  the  Colonel  had  paid  him,  but  be- 
cause his  knapsack  had  escaped  a critical  in- 
spection of  its  contents. 

The  inspection  over,  Company  Q marched  back 
to  it§  quarters  and  was  dismissed.  Poor  Shorty 
was  soon  tramping  to  and  fro,  under  guard,  hump- 
ing his  back  to  ease  the  load  that  had  been  put 
upon  it.  Si  was  very  sorry  for  him,  and  at  the 
same  time  felt  a glow  of  pleasure  at  the  thought 
that  it  was  not  his  own  knapsack  instead  of 
Shorty’s  that  the  Colonel  had  examined.  He 
could  not  help  feeling,  too,  that  it  was  a great 
joke  on  Shorty  to  be  caught  in  his  own  trap. 

- Shorty  took  his  medicine  like  a man,  marching 
up  and  dowm  the  row  of  tents  bravely  and  pati- 
ently, unheeding  the  gibes  and  jeers  of  his 
hard-hearted  comrades. 

* The  bugle  sounded  the  call  for  religious  serv- 
ices. Shorty  was  not  in  a frame  of  mind  that 
fitted  him  for  devout  worship.  In  fact,  few  in  the 
regiment  had  greater  need  of  the  regenerating 
influence.  He  had  never  been  inside  of  a 
church  but  two  or  three  times  in  his  life,  and  he 
really  felt  that  to  be  compelled  to  go  and  listen 
to  the  Chaplain’s  ssrmon  was  the  hardest  part 
of  the  double  punishment  the  Colonel  had  in- 
flicted upon  him. 

The  companies  were  all  marched  to  a wooded 
knoll  just  outside  the  camp.  Shorty  went  by 


“THE  SWEET  SABBATH.” 


241 


himself,  save  the  companionship  of  the  guard, 
with  fixed  bayonet.  He  had  been  permitted  to 
leave  his  knapsack  behind.  He  was  taken  to  a 
point  near  the  Chaplain,  that  he  might  get  the 
full  benefit  of  the  preacher’s  words. 

Under  the  spreading  trees,  whose  foliage  was 
brilliant  with  the  hues  of  Autumn,  in  the  mel- 
low sunshine  of  that  October  day  the  men  seated 
themselves  upon  the  ground  to  hear  the  Gospel 
preached.  The  Chaplain,  in  his  best  uniform, 
stood  and  praj^ed  fervently  for  Divine  guidance 
and  protection  and  blessing,  while  the  soldiers 
listened,  with  heads  reverently  bowed.  Then 
he  gave  out  the  familiar  Methodist  hymn, 

“Am  I a soldier  of  the  cross,” 
and  all  joined  in  the  old  tune  “Balerma,”  their 
voices  swelling  in  mighty  chorus.  As  they  sang, 
“Are  there  no  foes  for  me  to  face?” 
there  came  to  the  minds  of  many  a practical  ap- 
plication of  the  words,  in  view  of  the  long  and 
fruitless  chase  after  the  rebels  in  which  they 
had  been  engaged  for  nearly  a month. 

The  Chaplain  had  formerly  been  an  old-fash- 
ioned Methodist  circuit-rider  in  Indiana.  He 
was  full  of  fiery  zeal,  and  portrayed  the  terrors 
of  eternal  punishment  vividly  that  his  hearers 
could  almost  feel  the  heat  of  the  flame  and  smell 
the  fumes  of  brimstone  that  are  popularly  be- 
lieved to  roll  out  unceasingly  from  the  mouth  of 
the  bottomless  git.  It  ought  to  have  had  a salu- 


242 


SI  KLEGG. 


tary  effect  upon  Shorty,  but  it  is  greatly  to  be 
feared  that  he  steeled  his  stubborn  heart  against 
all  that  the  Chaplain  said. 


SHORTY  HEARS  THE  GOSPEL. 


It  was  always  difficult  not  to  feel  that  there 
was  something  contradictory  and  anomalous 
about  religious  services  in  the  army.  Grim- 
visaged,  hideous  war,  and  all  its  attendant  cir« 
cumstances,  seemed  so  utterly  at  variance  with 
thejprinciples  of  the  Bible  and  the  teachings  of 


“THE  sweet  SABBATH.” 


243 


Him  who  was  meek  and  lowly,  that  few  soldiers 
had  philosophy  enough  to  reconcile  them. 

The  soldiers  spent  the  afternoon  in  reading 
what  few  stray  books  and  fugitive,  well-worn 
newspapers  there  were  in  camp,  mending  their 
clothes,  sleeping,  and  some  of  them,  we  are 
pained  to  add,  in  playing  eucher,  old  sledge,  and 
other  sinful  games.  Dress  parade  closed  the  day 
that  had  brought  welcome  rest  to  the  way-worn 
soldiers  of  the  200th  Ind. 

“Shorty,”  said  Si,  after  they  had  gone  to  bed 
that  night,  “I  sh’d  be  mighty  sorry  if  I’d  ha’  got 
up  that  knapsack  trick  this  mornin’,  ’cause  you 
got  left  on  it  so  bad.” 

“There’s  a good  many  things,”  replied  Shorty, 
“that’s  all  right  when  ye  don’t  git  ketched.  It 
worked  tip  top  with  you,  Si,  ’n’  I’m  glad  of  it. 
But  I put  ye  up  to  it,  ’n’  I shouldn’t  never  got 
over  it  if  the  Colonel  had  caught  ye,  on  account 
of  them  stripes  on  yer  arm.  He’d  ha’  snatched 
’em  baldheaded,  sure’s  yer  born.  You’re  my 
pard,  ’n’  I’m  jest  as  proud  of  ’em  as  you  be  yer- 
self.  I’m  only  a privit’,  ’n’  they  can’t  rejuce 
me  any  lower!  Besides,  I ’low  it  sarved  me  right, 
*n’  I don’t  keer  fer  the  knapsack  drills  so  I didn’t 
git  you  into  a scrape  ” 


244 


SI  KLEGtt 


CHAPTER  XXL 

SI  KLEGG’S  CHRISTMAS— HOW  HE  SPENT  HIS  FIRST 
ONE  IN  THE  ARMY. 

r "IPs  purty  nigh  Christmas,  Shorty,”  said  Si 
Klegg  one  day  in  December,  as  the  200th  Ind. 
was  tramping  along  through  the  slush  that  was 
ankle-deep  in  the  road.  “Goin’  to  hang  up  yei 
stocking?” 

"Stocking  be  blowed!”  replied  Shorty.  "What’s 
the  use  o’  doin’  that  here?  Old  Santa  Claus’ll 
never  come  nigh  the  army.  He’s  no  fool!” 

"I’m  ’fraid  you’re  ’bout  right!”  said  Si,  sadly. 
"But,  say,  Shorty,  I seen  Bill  Jimson  this  mornin. 
You  knowed  him,  didn’t  ye?  He’s  bin  trampin’ 
’round  an’  carryin’  a musket  goin’  on  two  years. 
He  told  me  we’d  be  all  right  Christmas,  anyhow, 
as  the  Govyment  always  gives  the  soljers  a bully 
lay-out — roast  turkey,  ’n’  cramberry  sass,  ’n’ 
eyesters,  ’n’  mince  pie,  ’n’  sich.  Ye  know  when 
the  tellers  cum  ’round  speechifyin’  to  git  us  to 
’list  they  told  us  this  was  the  best  Guyvment  in 
the  world.” 

“Bill  Jimson  was  only  a stuffin’  of  ye!”  said 
Shorty,  with  a smile  of  derision.  "Don’t  ye 
fc’lieve  it,  Si;  fer  I tell  ye  he’s  foolin’  ye,  sure’s 


SI  KLEGG’S  CHRISTMAS. 


245 


ye r bawn!”  Shorty  knew  more  of  the  world  than 
Si  did. 

Si  whistled  softly  for  a minute  or  two,  as  the 
possible  truth  of  what  Shorty  had  said  crept  over 


his  mind  and  clouded  his  bright  visions  of  a 
Christmas  picnic. 

“Wall,  I dunno,”  said  he,  musingly;  “mebbe 


246 


SI  KLEGG. 


that’s  so.  But  me  ’n’  Bill  Jimson  used  to  go  to 
Sunday-school  together,  ’n’  I wouldn’t  s’pose 
he’d  lie  to  me  in  that  way.” 

‘‘You’ll  git  yer  eye-teeth  cut  after  a while,  and 
then  you’ll  know  more’n  ye  do  now!”  said  Shorty, 
with  a glance  of  pity  at  Si  for  his  simplicity. 

“Wonder  if  I’ll  git  so  I can  lie  like  Bill  Jimson 
by  the  time  I’ve  bin  in  the  army  as  long  as  he 
has?”  observed  Si,  as  the  regiment  halted  and 
they  sat  down  in  a fence  corner  to  rest. 

“I  reckon  ye  will,”  answered  Shorty;  “I  guess 
they  all  do.” 

That  night  another  mail  reached  the  camp. 
It  brought  Si  a letter  from  home.  His  sister 
Maria  wrote  that  they  had  heard  the  army  was 
going  to  Nashville,  and  they  were  filling  up  a big 
box  with  lots  of  good  things  which  they  were  go- 
ing to  send  him  for  Christmas. 

In  the  letter  was  a slip  from  Annabel,  telling 
Si  how  glad  she  was  to  have  a chance  to  send 
him  something.  She  had  made  a big  fruit  cake 
all  herself  for  him,  and  she  hoped  the  mean 
grillas  she  had  heard  about,  whatever  they  were 
wouldn’t  get  it.  If  she  really  believed  they  would 
she’d  fill  it  full  of  kyen  pepper,  or  pizen,  or  some- 
thing that  wovli  make  them  wish  they  had  left  it 
alone. 

Si  told  Shorty,  with  a good  dual  of  enthusiasm, 
about  the  box  he  was  going  to  get,  running  over 
a list  of  the  “goodies”  that  would  be  in  it,  and 


81  K LEGO'S  CHRISTMAS. 


247 


which  he  would  be  so  glad  to  share  with  Shorty 
on  Christmas. 

*‘1  ain’t  goin’  to  open  the  box  before  Christmas 
mornin’,”  said  Si,  in  joyful  anticipation  of  the 
dawn  of  that  auspicious  day. 

“I  don’t  much  think  ye  will,  myself,”  replied 
Shorty.  “From  what  I’ve  hearn  the  old  soljers 
tell  I ’low  ye’ll  be  durned  lucky  if  ye  get  a chance 
to  open  that  box  at  all.  The  grijlas  gathers  in 
a good  deal  of  that  trash,  and  what  gits  past 
them  is  gobbled  up  by  the  mulewhackers.” 

But  Si  had  an  abiding  faith  that  his  box  would 
get  through  all  right,  however  sad  might  be  the 
fate  of  others.  As  Christmas  drew  near  he  be- 
gan to  watch  for  it  daily.  The  200th  Ind.  was 
camped  two  or  three  miles  out  from  Nashville. 
Si  watched  every  train  of  wagons  that  brought 
supplies  to  the  regiment,  and  whenever  he  got 
an  opportunity  he  sent  to  town  to  see  if  he  could 
get  any  tidings  of  it.  Once  or  twice  he  got  a 
“pass”  himself,  and  hunted  the  city  over  for  that 
box. 

The  day  before  Christmas  the  brigade  to  which 
Si’s  regiment  belonged  was  ordered  out  on  a 
reconnoissance.  It  was  a sloppy  day.  The 
brigade  went  charging  over  the  fields  and  tearing 
through  the  woods  and  thickets,  sometimes  on 
the  double-quick,  trying  to  itch  a squad  of  rebel 
cavalry,  and  then  creeping  up  to  get  the  bulge 
on  some  of  the  enerov’s  pickets. 


248 


61  KLEGG. 


It  was  late  in  the  evening  when  the  Brigade  re- 
turned to  camp.  Si  thought  he  had  never  been 
so  tired  before  in  his  life.  All  day  his  drooping 
spirits  had  been  cheered  by  the  hope  of  finding 
his  box  when  he  got  back.  But  it  hadn’t  come, 
and  this  broke  him  up  completely. 


SI’S  VISIT  FROM  SANTA  CJLAU& 


“Ef  I was  you  I wouldn’t  open  yer  box  before 
Christmas  morning,”  said  Shorty,  as  he  and  Si 
stood  around  the  fire,  making  coffee  and  frying 
bacon  for  their  supper.  “And  what  d’ye  think 
now  about  Bill  Jimson’s  turkey  ’n’  mince-pie?” 

Si  didn’t  say  anything.  His  grief  was  too  deep 
lor  utterance.  He  didn’t  care  whether  the  old 


SI  KLEGG’S  CHBISTMAS. 


249 


flag  had  any  stars  left  at  all  or  not.  Wet,  weary, 
footsore,  and  thoroughly  disgusted,  he  went  to 
bed  as  soon  as  his  hunger  was  appeased.  He 
curled  up  under  his  blanket  and  was  soon  asleep, 
dreaming  of  Christmas  at  home,  and  mother,  and 
Annabel,  and  turkey-stuffing,  and  plum  pud- 
ding, and  things. 

“Hello,  Si,  wake  up  here!  Merry  Christmas  fco 
ye!” 

It  was  Shorty,  routing  out  Si,  soon  after  day- 
light. As  soon  as  Si  opened  his  eyes  he  saw  his 
stockings,  full  of  something  or  other,  pinned  to 
the  tent  just  above  his  head.  He  sprang  up  with 
as  much  eagerness  as  when  in  his  juvenile  days 
he  used  to  find  candy  apples  and  jumping-jacks 
sticking  out  of  his  well-filled  hose. 

The  average  army  stocking  was  fearfully  and 
wonderfully  made.  A new  one,  after  being  worn 
a couple  of  days,  looked  more  like  a nosebag  for  a 
mule  than  anything  else. 

Si  soon  found  how  the  boys  had  played  it  on 
him.  They  all  knew  about  the  box  which  he  had 
so  anxiously  expected,  and  which  none  of  them 
believed  he  would  get.  So,  after  he  went  to  sleep 
that  night,  they  slyly  pulled  off  his  stockings— 
for  Si  slept  with  them  on,  as  did  nine-tenths  of 
the  soldiers— filled  them  with  wormy  hardtack, 
bacon-rinds,  beef-bones,  sticks,  and  bits  of  old 
harness,  pouring  in  beans  and  rice  to  fill  up  the 
chinks,  and  pinned  them  to  the  tent  above  him. 


250  SI  KLEGG 

The  greatest  mistake  a soldier  ever  made  was 
to  Ipse  his  temper  on  account  of  a harmless  joke. 
Si  was  wise  enough  to  take  it  good-naturedly  as 
he  emptied  the  “nosebags”  and  drew  them  on  his 
feet. 

It  was  a raw  December  morning  with  a keen, 
nipping  air.  As  Si  skirmished  around  for  his 
breakfast  he  realized  that  all  his  festive  antici- 
pations of  a few  days  before  were  doomed  to  utter 
and  irremediable  disappointment. 

“It’s  tough,  fer  Christmas,  ain’t  it,  Shorty?” 
said  Si,  as  he  gnawed  bis  hardtack. 

If  his  box  would  only  come  he  might  yet  be 
happy,  so  to  speak;  but  hope  had  given  way  to 
despair. 

The  forenoon  of  that  Christmas  day  was  dull 
enough.  The  boys  were  let  off  from  drill,  and 
spent  the  time  chiefly  in  writing  letters  and 
hunting  graybacks. 

Soon  after  noon  the  Sergeant-Major  of  the  200th 
was  seen  rushing  along  the  line  of  the  officers’ 
tents  with  orders.  He  had  the  air  of  a man  who 
bore  important  tidings,  and  such  proven?  to  be  the 
case.  His  errand  turned  out  to  be  strictly  “busi- 
ness.” 

In  a few  minutes  it  was  known  through  the 
camp  that  “Old  Rosey”  had  issued  orders  for  an 
advance  on  Murfreesboro,  and  the  army  was  to  be 
ready  to  move  at  daylight  next  morning.  Tents, 
wagons,  and  everything  that  men  did  not  choose 


«4I  KLEGG’S  CHBISTMAS. 


251 


to  carry  on  their  backs  were  to  be  left  behind. 
“Are  we  going  to  have  a fight,”  said  Si 
with  some  solicitude. 

“Looks  that  way!”  said  Shorty 

It  looked  very  much  that  way  six  days  later! 

The  quiet  of  the  morning  was  followed  by  the 
bustle  and  confusion  of  getting  ready  to  move. 
There  was  hurrying  to  and  fro.  Feet  and  hands 
and  tongues  were  busy.  The  officers  made  the 
usual  fuss,  and  kept  everybody  in  a stew.  The 
Orderly-Sergeants  had  their  hands  full,  as  they 
always  did  at  such  times.  There  were  rations  to 
be  drawn  and  issued — for  the  men  were  to  march 
with  full  haversacks;  cartridge-boxes  to  be  in- 
spected and  replenished;  the  sick  to  be  sent  to 
hospitals  in  the  city;  needed  articles  of  clothing 
to  be  supplied;  all  company  outfits  and  personal 
baggage  to  be  packed  and  sent  back;  frequent 
details  of  men  to  be  made  for  this,  that  and  the 
other  duty,  and  all  the  numberless  things  that 
appertained  to  the  beginning  of  a campaign.  The 
army  had  not  yet  acquired  the  mobility  of  a year 
or  two  later,  when  it  was  in  “light  marching 
order”  all  the  time,  and  could  get  ready  in  30 
minutes  to  go  anywhere  or  do  anything, 
j So  it  was  that  during  that  Christmas  afternoon 
and  evening  45,000  men  were  busily  engaged  in  the 
work  of  preparation,  and  Si  hustled  around  with 
the  rest.  Once  in  a while  he  thought  how  dif- 
^ient  it  was  from  all  his  previous  Christmases* 


252 


SI  KLEGG. 


and  even  from  the  one  he  had  hoped  to  have  this 
time.  But  Si  was  fast  learning  to  be  a good  sol- 
dier and  take  things  as  they  came. 


It  was  late  that  night  when  the  work  was  fin- 
ished. Then  the  soldiers  wrapped  themselves  in 
their  blankets  to  get  a fe^  hours  of  sleep  before  the 
reveille  should  awaken  thnm  for  the  march  to  battle. 


'SI  KLEGG’S  CHRISTMAS. 


253 


r That  was  the  way  Si  Klegg  and  all  the  other 
soldiers  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  spent 
the  Christmas  of  1862.  Si  managed,  hs  did  most 
of  the  others,  to  snatch  a few  minutes  to  write  a 
brief  letter  or  two.  A great  mail  started  north- 
ward the  next  day.  Many  a poor  fellow  never 
■wrote  again. 

It  was  more  than  four  weeks  after  that  time, 
when  the  debris  Of  the  battle  of  Stone  River  had 
been  cleared  away,  that  Si’s  Christmas  box 
found  its  way  to  the  front.  Its  contents,  what 
was  left  of  them,  were  in  a condition  to  make 
angels  weep.  The  teamsters  had  pried  it  open 
and  rioted  upon  the  toothsome  dainties  that  lov- 
ing hearts  and  hands  had  prepared  for  Si.  A 
small  section  of  Annabel’s  cake  was  left,  and 
the  ravagers,  with  a refinement  of  cruelty,  had 
written  on  the  paper  wrapped  around  it 
. “This  is  bully  cake.  Try  it.” 

Almost  everything  in  the  box  had  been  eatenc 
and  what  remained  was  in  a state  of  utter  chaos 
and  ruin.  Rough  handling,  that  would  have  done 
credit  to  a railroad  baggage-master,  had  broken 
bottles  of  pickles  and  jars  of  fruit,  and  the  liquids 
had  thoroughly  baptized  the  edibles  that  the 
mule-drivers  had  spared.  It  was  a sorry  mess, 
and  Si’s  heart  ached  as  he  gazed  upon  the  wreck. 


254 


SI  KLEGGr. 


Dd  AT  THE  ENB  OF  SIX  MONTHS 


/ 


OTHER  STORIES. 


A BRAVE  DASH. 

A GALLANT  CORPORAL  AND  HIS  MEN  CUT  THEIR 
WAY  THROUGH  A MASS  OF  ENEMIES. 


By  Capt.  J.  M.  Rife, 

7th  W.  Ya.  Cav.,  West  Jefferson,  O. 

Editor  National  Tribune: 

The  war  through  which  our  Nation  passed  in 
lSSl-^  was  accompanied  by  so  many  personal 
incidents,  daring  adventures  and  hair-breadth  es- 
capes that  they  cannot  all  be  recounted.  The 
modesty  of  many  a veteran  and  his  inability  to 
set  down  in  writing  his  experiences  deprive  us 
of  many  things  worth  knowing  and  that  are 
equal  in  soldierly  prowess  to  the  most  daring 
deeds  of  the  knights  oi  old. 

Tftia  leads  me  t~.  write  of  as  Adventure  con- 
nected with  the  cavalry  command  of  Gen.  W. 
W.  Averell,  which  lay  *,t  Beverly,  \xi  Randolph 
Co.,  W.  Va.,  In  October,  1863.  One  morning  Capt. 
E.  B.  Powell,  of  the  7th  W.  Va.  Cav..  was  ordered 
on  picket  duty  with  100  men  12  miles  to  the  front, 
near  the  base  of  Cheat  Mountain.  His  advance 
gost  was  at  the  base  of  the  mountain,  where  the 


256 


OTHER  STORIES. 


road  passed  15y  the  battlefield  and  works  of  Gen. 
Reynolds.  Picket  duty  in  the  mountains  of  West 
Virginia  was  by  no  means  pleasant.  The  country 
was  full  of  rebel  spies  and  bushwhackers,  who 
watched  for  every  opportunity  to  steal  upon  and 
shoot  down  the  unhappy  man  whose  duty  it  was 
to  stand  guard  far  to  the  front. 

During  the  second  night  of  outpost  duty  a de- 
tail was  made  from  this  company  for  escort  duty. 
Saylor,  from  Gen.  Averell’s  headquarters,  came 
to  the  front  with  an  order  for  an  escort  to  ac- 
company him  over  the  mountain,  where  they  were 
to  leave  him  and  a comrade  and  he  was  to  go  on 
in  the  performance  of  his  mission.  The  man 
chosen  to  lead  this  party  was  Corp’l  A.  J.  Sprad- 
ling,  of  Co.  A,  one  of  the  bravest  and  truest  men 
and  soldiers  I ever  knew.  I allow  him  from 
this  point  to  tell  the  story  of  his  adventures  in 
his  own  words: 

“We  made  ready  to  go  as  soon  as  we  got  proper 
orders  from  the  Captain  of  the  Guard.  Saylor 
said  we  would  start  in  time  to  reach  the  top  of 
Cheat  Mountain  by  daylight.  But  we  started  a 
little  too  soon,  however,  and  it  was  not  light  1 
when  we  arrived  at  the  summit.  We  dismounted 
and  lay  down,  shivering  with  the  cold.  Those 
Cheat  Mountains  are  awfully  cold  at  that  tim© 
of  year.  I shivered  so  I thought  I would  crack 
my  teeth. 

“We  waited  fc>i  day  because  we  had  season  te 


A BRAVE  DA&iL 


257 


suppose  the  Johnnies  might  be  on  the  mountain 
and  in  the  works,  and  our  scout  was  not  willing 
to  pass  until  we  knew  no  rebels  were  there. 
When  we  found  they  were  not  there  we  moved 
forward  down  the  mountain,  crossing  the  wonder 


A CAVALRYMAN. 


ful  Cheetgt  River  on  the  bridge  and  passing  on 
toward  the  vailey  and  across  it,  until  we  could 
see  th*  rebel  fortifications  beyond  Jackson 

Bhret. 


OTHER  STORIES. 


m 

“Before  we  had  gone  thus  far  I saw  signs  on 
the  road  that  the  rebels  had  been  that  way  quite 
recently.  We  had  now  gone  about  15  miles  from 
the  top  of  the  mountain.  We  were  far  in  the 
enemy’s  country,  and  only  six  of  us.  The  road 
looked  as  though  a regiment  had  been  passing. 
I said  to  my  brother  that  we  would  be  sure  to  get 
bushwhacked  before  we  got  back.  We  turned  to  go 
back,  leaving  Mr.  Saylor  to  go  on.  We  could  not  go 
farther  toward  the  enemy  without  a fight  and  pos- 
sible capture.  As  we  turned  to  go  the  rebels  could 
see  us  as  plainly  as  we  saw  them,  and  I expected  to 
be  followed.  I sent  the  two  led  horses  in  advance 
(the  scouts  had  dismounted  here)  and  remained 
in  the  rear.  But  we  were  not  followed,  for  the 
rebels  supposed  they  had  the  sure  thing  on  us, 
anyhow,  and  were  noways  anxious  or  in  a hurry, 
but  waited  for  us  to  ride  into  the  trap  they  had 
set  for  us. 

“When  our  advance  got  back  to  where  we  had 
seen  the  signs  on  the  way  out,  the  rebels  were 
round  across  the  road  fronting  of  us.  They  fired 
a volley  at  Seth  Spurlock,  who  was  leading  the 
horses.  They  were  so  sure  of  us  that  they  did 
not  fire  to  hit,  but  to  compel  us  to  surrender,  be- 
cause they  needed  horses  so  bad?y.  One  of 
them  aimed  too  low  and  killed  the  horse  Spur- 
kick  was  riding.  L^e  immediately  mounted  one 
ofc  the  other*. 


A BRA  YE  DASH. 


259 


“The  rest  of  us  were  coming  up  rapLIly.  I saw 
something  had  to  be  done  mighty  quick  or  they 
would  get  us;  so  I ordered  a charge  right  on  to 
them.  I said  ‘Boys,  let’s  go  through  them. 


Come  alofcg,  all  that  will  go  with  me!’  We  drew 
revolvers  and  dashed  among  them.  W©  fired  and 
they  fired  and  clubbed  their  guns;  some  took 


260 


OTHER  STORIES. 


hold  of  our  horses  and  ordered  us  to  surrender, 
but  the  boys  drew  sabers  and  let  them  have  it 
right  and  left  until  we  were  nearly  past,  when 
another  trouble  met  us.  They  had  felled  a large 
tree  across  the  road  from  the  upper  side.  I saw 
we  might  pass  by  cutting  out  a few  branches 
from  the  top.  I dismounted  and  began  to  tear 
away,  while  the  boys  were  holding  the  rebs  at 
bay.  I soon  forced  my  horse  by,  and  some 
of  the  others  had  got  through  by  this  time,  and 
we  were  in  the  road  again,  with  a clear  track  and 
the  rebels  all  behind.  Only  one  of  our  party 
showed  the  white  feather.  He  dismounted  and 
took  to  the  woods. 

“There  were  but  six  of  us.  We  captured  some 
of  the  same  rebel  party  a few  months  afterward, 
and  they  said  there  were  83  of  them,  but  they 
were  so  sure  of  us  that  they  did  not  take  pains  to 
put  every  man  on  the  road.  We  surprised  them 
by  our  dash  and  beat  the  whole  lot. 

“One  of  our  party  was  wounded — a member  of 
the  14th  Pa.  Cav.  After  we  all  got  past  the 
rebels  I saw  him  fall  from  his  horse.  He  was 
shot  through  the  hips.  It  may  be  if  we  could 
have  got  him  into  the  hospital  he  might  have 
lived.  He  lay  there  two  days  and  nights.  The 
unfeeling  rebels  brought  ambulance  and  got 
their  own  a^ad  and  wounded,  but  xstl  this  poor 
tellow  lying  there  unti1  his  own  regiment  went 


A BRAVE  DASH. 


I 


261 


and  brought  him  to  Beverly,  where  he  died.  Ac- 
cording to  the  statement  of  the  prisoners  we  did 
the  rebels  a great  deal  of  damage,  as  we  killed 
seven  and  wounded  four.” 

This  is  the  plain  story  of  a man  who  has  been 
too  modest  to  urge  that  this  incident  be  made  & 
matter  of  record.  The  story,  as  I heard  it  at  the 
time,  impressed  me  as  one  of  the  boldest  and 
bravest  acts  ever  performed  by  a soldier.  It  was 
not  mentioned  in  any  orders,  nor  do  I know  that 
Corp’l . Spradling  and  his  heroic  party  ever  re- 
ceived the  thanks  of  the  Commanding  General. 
Similar  events  were  somewhat  common  in  the 
cavalry  service  of  West  Virginia.  A scout  was 
hardly  possible  in  that  country  without  ex- 
changing shots  with  the  enemy,  and  so  in  the 
multitude  of  thrilling  scenes  and  adventures  this, 
one  of  the  most  notable  of  them  all,  was  lost 
sight  of. 

' ' , 


\ 


265 


OTHER  STORIED 


GEN.  EWELL. 

AN  OFFICER  OF  THE  SIXTH  CORPS  TELLS  OF  THE 
CIRCUMSTANCES  OF  HIS  CAPTURE. 


By  Maj.  H.  W.  Day, 

tfirst  Brigade,  Third  Division,  Sixth  Corps. 

JEditer  National  Tribune: 

The  soldiers  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  have 
been  very  quiet,  leaving  to  history  their  deeds  o* 
valor  and  the  duty  performed  on  so  many  hard- 
fought  fields.  There  has  been  a wide  scope  given 
by  our  Western  comrades,  and  an  unlimited  per- 
spective to  their  grand  and  wonderful  compaigns 
My  lot  as  a soldier  was  with  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac — one  that  battled  with  the  flower  and 
strength  of  the  South.  History  will  record  thal 
two  such  armies  have  rarely  met  in  battle. 

i must  correct  Lieut.  J,  P.  Allum,  who  makes 
the  claim  that  a Sergeant-Major  of  his  regi- 
ment captured  Gen.  Ewell.  It  wTas  not  so.  The 
following  **re  the  facts : Gen.  Ewell  was  not  cap- 
tured on  April  5;  nor  do  I think  the  battle-ground 
bears  the  name  he  has  given  it.  I was  then, 
and  had  been  some  years,  serving  upon  the  bri- 
gade staff  to  whom  Gen.  Ewell,  Custis  Lee  and 
others  surrendered,  and  was  as  near  that  point 


GEN  EWELL. 


263 


as  any  other  living  man,  although  I never  made 
claim  of  having  captured  them  nor  either  of  them. 
Gen.  Ewell  surrendered  to  us  and  our  corps. 

In  the  afternoon  of  April  6,  1864,  our  (Sixth) 
Corps,  after  having  made  a tedious  and  circuit- 
ous march  during  the  day  and  night  previous 
from  the  right  of  the  army  to  the  extreme  left, 
came  up  with  the  cavalry,  Gen.  Sheridan  com- 
manding. We  were  his  pets  and  he  was  our  idol. 
Wherever  he  directed  we  would  go.  At  this  junc- 
ture we  were  informed  that  the  Confederates  were 
strongly  posted  at  Sailor’s  Creek,  a muddy 
stream  leading  to  a little  no-place,  Deaconville. 
We  were  ordered  to  form  and  charge  tnem  out. 
That’s  all.  We  formed,  the  First  Division,  Gen. 
Wheaton,  on  the  left.  Ours,  the  Third,  was 
Ricketts’s  old  division.  He,  however,  was  not  in 
command,  being  still  an  invalid  from  that  ter- 
rible wound  he  received  at  Cedar  Creek  Oct.  19 
the  year  previous.  Gen.  Truman  H.  Seymour 
was  in  command.  We  were  to  form  on  Gen. 
Wheaton’s  left.  Our  Second  Brigade,  Gen.  J. 
Warren  Keifer,  formed  on  his  left,  and  our  First 
Brigade,  Gen.  W.  S.  Truax  in  command,  was  t He 
extreme  right. 

Away  we  went  in  two  fines  up  over  an  un- 
broken, bushy  field*  and  cleaned  the  grass  as 
we  went.  We  soon  gained  the  hight  and  dro^e 
that  line  of  the  enemy  out.  As  we  reached  the 
hight  another  field  presented  itself,  sloping  to 


264 


OTHER  STORIES* 


the  west.  Down  this  slope  the  rebels  were  re* 
treating.  On  we  charged,  and  as  they  swung  to 
the  left  we  kindly  conformed  to  their  movements 
and  soon  captured  a large  portion  of  their  first 
line.  The  balance  swung  to  our  left  flank  west- 
ward and  retired  across  Sailor’s  Creek  into  a 
thicket  of  low  pine  and  oak.  The  field  was  open 
to  this  creek,  which  ran  along  in  our  front  nearly 
north.  The  First  Division  struck  the  enemy’s 
solid  line.  The  ground  was  low,  gradually  rising 
in  front  of  the  Second  Brigade,  and  in  our  front 
was  a pond  and  slough  75  to  125  yards  in  width, 
flooded  with  water  from  a dam  some  400  or  500 
yards  further  to  our  right.  There  the  enemy  were 
also  posted  and  confronted  by  the  cavalry. 

We  were  too  far  down  this  slope  and  too  near 
this  slough  to  retire.  Gen.  Andrew  J.  Smith, 
then  our  Division  Adjutant-General,  came  with 
orders  for  our  First  Brigade  to  charge  across  that 
pond  and  take  the  hill  beyond,  which,  commenc- 
ing at  the  westerly  margin  of  the  pond,  rose  to  a 
distance  of  40  to  60  yards  from  the  slough. 

Wheaton’s  and  Keifer’s  commands  were  soon 
xapon  the  enemy,  only  a part  of  Keifer^s  Brigade 
having  to  be  retired  to  avoid  the  slough  in  its 
front.  “Unsling  cartridge-boxes  and  prepare  to 
charge,”  was  the  order.  At  this  moment  Gen. 
Smith  received  a bullet  in  his  leg  and  fell  from 
his  horse.  I have  never  had  the  pleasure  of  meet- 
ing that  gallant  comrade  since. 


t > 


265 


GEN.  EWELL. 


"A  confederate  officer  and  a WHITE  FLAG.” 


On  we  went.  No  mounted  officer  could  ride 
through  that  mira  I left  my  horse  stuck  in  the 
mudf  and,  clashing  hands  with  comrades,  charged 


266 


OTHER  STORIES. 


through  the  pond.  Many  of  the  brigade  fell  to 
rise  no  more.  In  this  charge  the  10th  Vt.  was  on 
our  left,  the  106th  N.  Y.  on  its  right,  and  the  14th 
N.  J.  on  the  extreme  right,  to  protect  that  flank. 
We  soon  reached  the  top  of  the  hill  with  a hurrah. 

At  this  point,  and  in  our  front,  was  a field  three 
or  four  hundred  yards  wide,  with  a little  clump 
of  woods  beyond.  The  enemy’s  line  retired  into 
the  woods  in  front  of  the  Second  Brigade.  We 
soon  pushed  forward  our  flankers,  the  enemy 
breaking,  and  those  to  our  right  retiring  upon 
the  road  in  that  direction.  Our  line  swung  to  the 
left,  and  with  bayonets  fixed  charged  at  a double- 
quick.  The  left  of  our  line  soon  reached  the 
enemy  and  drove  them  down  a slope.  As  our 
right  swung  still  around  we  saw  we  were  com- 
pletely in  the  rear  of  the  enemy,  and  were  wheel- 
ing to  fire,  when  two  of  our  skirmishers  who  had 
reached  the  little  clump  of  woods,  with  others, 
appeared  running  toward  me  with  a Confederate 
officer  and  a white  flag.  I ran  to  meet  him.  He 
offered  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Ewell  and  his  com- 
mand, and  asked  that  we  would  stop  firing.  I 
wheeled,  halted  the  line,  sent  down  the  word, 
which  was  answered  with  such  hurrahs  that 
©urs  and  the  enemy’s  whole  fine  seemed  to  cease 
all  at  once  from  firing. 

Then  I turned  to  this  officer.  He  said  he  was 
Maj.  Pegram,  Inspector-General  upon  Ewell’s 
staff,  and  that  he  surrendered  Gen.  EwaJl,  Custis 


GEN.  EWELL. 


267 


Lee,  Commodores  Tucker  and  Simms  and  others, 
and  desired  our  commanding  officer  to  take 
charge  of  them.  At  this  moment  Maj.  Leonard, 
Adjutant-General  of  our  brigade,  came  with  his- 
horse  and  mine.  He  took  charge  of  Maj.  Pegram, 
and  I rode  along  the  line  to  stop  some  firing, 
which  appeared  to  be  more  for  glory  than  fight. 
At  this  point  some  cavalry  came  up  on  our  flank 
in  rear  of  the  14th  N.  J.,  and  riding  to  these  woods 
seized  Gen.  Ewell  and  some  others,  who  were 
then  in  charge  of  our  infantry,  t took  them 
along,  I presume,  as  trophies  of  war. 

But  who  captured  them?  That  evening  we 
camped  near  the  battlefield,  and  upon  the  claim 
being  made  that  the  cavalry  captured  these  of- 
ficers Gen.  Ewell  emphatically  denied  having 
surrendered  to  the  cavalry,  and  said  he  sur- 
rendered himself  and  command  to  the  infantry  of 
the  Sixth  Corps. 

If  I remember  right  history  bears  me  out  on 
every  point.  Lieut.  Allum  does  not  seem  to 
make  a solid  claim  for  his  Sergeant-Major  hav- 
ing captured  this  General,  but  only  a presump- 
tive one.  I loved  Custer  as  a soldier,  and  all  his 
men.  I went  with  him,  guided  him  down  through 
that  fosse  at  Cedar  Creek  to  the  right  of  the  pike 
at  the  time  Early  had  a battery  commanding  that 
pike  on  the  evening  of  Get.  19,  18&4  Tj  saw  the 
charge  made  upon  Early’s  retreating  column  in 
rear  of  that  battery,  and  saw  the  enemy  flee  to 


268 


OTHER  STORIES. 


the  swamp  and  woods  on  the  left  of  the  pike. 
Custer’s  noble  charge  there  was  one  of  his  grand- 
est deeds,  and  won  for  us  all  more  than  we  had 
lost — won  the  key  of  the  Confederate  left  and 
insured  the  destruction  of  Early’s  army.  It  was 
the  grand  turning-point  of  that  day,  made  glori- 
ous first  by  that  determined,  solid  old  Sixth 
Corps,  and  finally  completed  by  this  dashing, 
daring,  determined  Custer.  But  Lieut.  Allum 
and  his  men  were  only  guards  to  take  charge  of 
the  distinguished  captives  they  received  at 
Sailor’s  Creek  after  they  had  surrendered  to  a 
stronger  of  the  army— the  Sixth  Corps. 


GEN.  GRANT. 


269 


GEN.  GRANT. 


HE  TAKES  A SMOKE  FROM  A PRIVATE’S  PIPE. 


By  Wm.  F.  Smith, 

Co.  L,  4th  Iowa  Car. 

Editor  National  Tribune: 

On  the  trip  from  Grand  Gulf  to  Vicksburg,  my 
company  (L,  4th  Iowa  Cav.,)  had  the  advance 
one  day,  and  Private  Chas.  W.  Lash  was  severely 
wounded  in  a fight  at  or  near  Raymond,  Miss., 
and  was  left  in  the  hospital  with  other  wounded. 
Soon  afterward  a rebel  bushwhacker  came  along 
with  his  company  and  paroled  all  the  wounded. 
Lash,  as  soon  as  he  could  travel,  joined  the  regi- 
ment at  Vicksburg,  and  was  ordered  to  report  tc 
a Lieutenant  who  had  charge  of  paroled  pris- 
oners. 

The  smart  Lieutenant  told  him  he  would  not 
recognize  ,his  parole,  as  the  rebel  who  gave  it  to 
him  was  a bushwhacker,  and  ordered  him  to  re- 
port to  his  company  for  duty.  The  Captain  told 
him  it  would  not  do  for  him  to  violate  his  parole* 
and  he  said  he  had  better  go  and  see  Gen. 
Grant  about  it.  So  Lash  went  to  Grant's  head- 
quarters. Grant  was  busy  at  the  time,  but  sent 
him  word  by  the  guard  to  wait,  and  he  would  see 


270 


OTHER  STORIES. 


rum  lit  & lew  minutes  lie  was  in  iie  General's 
ten*,  and  staled  his  case.  Grant  talked  very 


GEN.  GRANT, 


271 


kindly  to  him  and  asked  about  his  wounds,  etc., 
and  then  said: 

“So  the  Lieutenant  would  not  recognize  your 
parole.  Well,  Gen.  Grant  will.”  He  added  that 
he  thought  that  would  make  it  all  right,  and  that 
some  of  those  Lieutenants  felt  more  important 
than  the  Major-General. 

As  Lash  started  out  of  the  tent  Grant  accom- 
panied him,  and  saw  one  of  the  soldiers  outside 
sitting  on  a log  smoking  a pipe.  He  stepped  up 
to  him  and  said: 

“Young  man,  have  you  not  smoked  long 
enough?” 

Taking  the  pipe  he  sat  down  in  the  group  to 
enjoy  a smoke  from  the  pipe  of  a private  soldier. 
Is  it  any  wonder  that  the  soldiers  loved  Gen. 
Grant?  He  had  time  while  the  cannon  were 
thundering  away  at  Vicksburg,  and  while  he  had 
thousands  of  grave  matters  to  call  his  attention^ 
to  see  that  his  common  soldiers  were  not  mis- 
created, and  to  sit  down  amongst  them  and  chat 
and  smoke  out  of  one  of  their  pipes. 


m 


OTHES  ST0ETE3. 


ABOUT  A “JACK.* 


A GENTLEMAN  with  long  eabs  too  much  foe 
A BOY  IN  BLUE. 


Editor  National  Tribune: 

The  expedition  that  started  from  Alexandria, 
La.,  accomplished  what  it  was  sent  to  do.  It 
found  the  rebels  posted  on  both  banks  of  the 
river,  tearing  and  breaking  up  the  steamers  and 
blockading  the  river,  with  cannon  planted  ready 
to  give  us  a warm  reception.  Their  forces  being 
far  superior  to  ours,  after  exchanging  a few  shots 
with  them,  the  object  of  the  expedition 


satisfactorily  accomplished — that  is,  to  find  oui 
what  they  were  doing  and  what  forces  they  had— 
we  fell  back  about  a mile  and  went  into  camp  on 
large  plantation. 

Hers  comes  in  the  funny  part  of  it.  The  writer 
had  made  a contract  to  furnish  a party  in  Alex- 


c*ne  at  the  barn,  I began  to  take  observations. 
Sure  <»*Kragh,  I found  a long-eas^d  animal,  but  on 
my  attempting  to  go  by  him  to  untie  him,  he  let 
fly  one  of  h xs  slippers  and  came  very  near  taking 


By  V.  B.  Kolb, 
Co.  3,  3d  Md.  Car. 


andria  with  jacks,  and  thinking  there  might  be 


ABOUT  A JACK. 


m 


off  one  of  my  shins;1  but  $50  ap’  * - i°cks  was 
too  good  to  give  it  up  without  : . i struggle. 

So  I crawled  up  over  the  stall  and  came  down  in 
front  of  his  lordship.  He  reared  back,  and  the 


DID  HE  HAVE  THE  JACK.  OR  THE  JACK  HIM? 

way  that  rope  halter  cracked  was  a caution.  It 
was  getting  so  dark  I could  hardly  see  him,  but  1 
managed  to  get  him  loose  and  led  him  out.  fi© 
went  nicely  until  he  espied  the  horses  tied  to  the 


274  OTHER  STORIES. 

picket-line,  when  he  threw  up  his  head  and  gave 
one  of  those  brays  that  sounded  like  a steam- 
boat whistle.  He  started  on  a run,  but  I held  on, 
for  I was  thinking  of  that  $50  and  the  luxuries  I 
could  get  when  we  got  to  New  Orleans.  I might 
as  well  have  tried  to  hold  a locomotive,  and  let 
go  I did,  or  I would  not  have  been  writing  this. 
Into  the  picket-line  he  went  like  a shot  out  of  a 
100-ton  gun.  It  took  about  one  hour  of  solid  club- 
bing to  get  him  started,  and  where  he  went  only 
the  pickets  can  tell,  for  if  there  was  one  shot 
fired  at  him  that  night  there  must  have  been  20. 
We  expected  every  minute  to  be  attacked,  but 
the  next  morning  we  found  it  was  our  long-eared 
jack  that  was  making  the  grand  rounds.  We  re- 
turned to  Alexandria  the  next  day,  but,  1 am 
sorry  to  say,  without  Mr.  Jack. 


CAPTURING  A SKILLET. 


;75 


CAPTURING  A SKILLET. 


THE  BOYS  WOULD  OCCASION  ALLY  STEAL  FROM  NE 
ANOTHER. 


" By  John  T.  Frederick, 
Co.  C,  10th  Ohio  Cay. 


Editor  National  Tribune: 

I will  narrate  an  incident  which  happened  near 
Gordon’s  Gap  at  the  opening  of  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign. There  were  seven  of  us  in  our  mess — 
Geo.  and  Joseph  Hankinson,  Hector  Looker,  John 
Grimm,  Chas.  and  Joseph  Elston,  and  myself. 
We  had  no  skillet  in  our  mess,  and  had  to  de- 
pend on  other  comrades  for  the  loan  of  o.ne  when 
they  had  finished  cooking.  As  marching  orders 
would  frequently  come  before  we  had  finished  our 
meal,  we  were  not  allowed  to  enjoy  our  rations  as 
we  would  like.  This  could  not  last  always  St 
we  held  a council  of  war  and  decided  that  we 
must  have  at  least  two  skilkJs.  The  loi  fell 
upon  Comrades  George  Hankinson  and  Hector 
Loo^r  to  get  them. 

TW»y  made  a reconnoissance  in  force  about  9 
o’clock  ».  m.  Finding  the  955*i  Hi.  M’t’d  Inf.  in 
y'^t  across  yjie  areek  s dista»e«  tr  im 


276 


OTHER  STORIES. 


us,  they  made  the  necessary  dispositions  to 
ath  k that  w an  regiment.  Seeing  two  skil- 
lets carelessly  exposed  in  the  camp,  Comrade 


AST  POUT  IN  A STOBM. 


Looker  seized  one,  and  returned  to  our  mess  with- 
out accident.  Comrade  Hankinson  attempted  to 
obtain  the  other.  The  skillet  lay  by  the  head  of  a 
sleeping  man,  whose  head  was  pillowed  on  hid 


CAPTURING  A SKILLET. 


277 


saddle,  propped  on  a rail.  This  was  Comrade 
Hankinson’s  chance.  He  grasped  the  skillet, 
but  the  pan  would  not  come.  There  was  a string 
tied  to  the  handle,  and  the  other  end  appeared 
to  have  caught  fast  on  something.  He  gave  it  a 
jerk,  bringing  the  rail  and  saddle  from  under  the 
sleeper’s  head,  who,  suddenly  awaking,  and  see- 
ing his  pan  about  to  depart,  jumped  up,  giv- 
ing a Comanche  war-whoop.  He  started  after 
Hankinson,  who  dropped  the  skillet  and  ran 
for  dear  life. 

Several  of  the  92d  boys  joined  the  purrult, 
shouting  at  every  jump,  “Halt,  you  rascal!”  Our 
comrade  was  chased  within  a bend  of  the  creek, 
which  was  deep  in  places.  Being  unable  to  get 
around  to  another  point,  he  made  a desperate 
spring,  alighting  in  the  middle  of  the  stream 
and  receiving  a good  ducking.  He  clambered  out 
on  the  opposite  bank  and  returned  to  cur  mess. 
His  pursuers  did  not  follow  him  beyond  the 
creek,  where  they  stood  and  showered  curses  on 
his  head  until  he  disappeared  .horn  their  Sight, 
We  had  a good  laugh  at  our  comrade’s  expense. 
I think  he  will  remember  it  yet.  He  was  a good 
soldier,  always  ready  and  willing  to  do  his  duty* 


273 


OTHER  STORIES. 


A NEW  YEAR  IN  DIXIE. 


THE  MICHIGAN  BOYS  HAD  A TROUBLOUS  TIME 
GETTING  AMMUNITION  TO  ROSECRANS. 


By  Capt.  John  Algo*, 
10th  Mich! 


Editor  National  Tribune: 

At  the  time  of  the  battle  of  Stone  River  we  had 
,een  for  some  time  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  doing  all 
kinds  of  duty.  It  was  rumored  that  the  rebels 
'/d  captured  and  destroyed  our  ammunition 
zain  and  supplies,  all  of  which  had  to  be  con- 
veyed by  wagons  from  Nashville  to  Murfreesboro, 
a distance  of  27  miles,  and  the  road  was  liable  to 
obstructions  in  the  shape  of  rebel  cavalry  and 
guerrillas,  which  infested  the  country.  Our  regi- 
ment formed  a guard  to  an  ammunition  train  to 
go  through  as  quickly  as  possible  to  Gen.  Rose- 
cra&s,  who  was  fighting  at  Stone  River.  We 
started  from  Nashville  at  2 o’clock  in  the  morning 
oi  the  31st  of  December,  1862,  and  marched  rapidly 
until  within  about  four  miles  of  the  battlefield, 
wUere  we  halted  ior  dinner.  It  was  here  that  we 
drat  learned  of  the  fighting  that  day  and  the  ru- 
mor oi  Rosecrans’s  defeat.  The  scene  even  four 


A NEW  TEAR  IN  DIXIE. 


279 


miles  back  from  the  front  was  very  distressing 
Men  with  and  without  guns  were  making  for  the 
rear,  completely  demoralized;  ambulance  horses 


-Bfroppraa  .3*1  »ut." 


and  drivers,  artillery  horses,  with  pieces  of  har- 
ness and  often  without  any  harness,  came  tear- 
ing through  the  woods.  Wounded  and  bleeding 


280 


OTHER  STORIES. 


men  were  running  or  being  brought  back  in  am- 
bulances and  otherwise.  All  told  the  tale  of  a 
terrible  battle.  A line  was  formed  at  this  point  at 
a creek,  and  the  10th  Mich,  assisted  for  several 
Lours  to  stop  the  horror-stricken  soldiers  from 
passing  farther,  and  soon  the  same  troops  were 
being  marshaled  to  make  another  dash  to  the 
front.  A small  house  by  the  wayside  was  used 
for  a hospital,  and  the  wounded  were  here  attended 
to-  Our  Assistant  Surgeon,  Rouse,  rolled  up  his 
sleeves  and  “worked  like  a nailer,”  dressing 
wounds,  as  long  as  we  remained.  At  6 p.  m.  we 
moved  forward  with  the  ammunition  train  over 
the  very  road  that  our  stragglers  were  coming, 
pleading  with  us  to  return  and  save  ourselves 
and  them  by  getting  back  to  Nashville,  as  they 
believed  our  whole  army  was  killed  or  taken 
prisoners.  But  we  pressed  steadily  on,  passing 
the  remains  oi  seme  of  ths  vragwcj 

that  had  been  captured  the  day  before,  and  finally 
delivered  *our  train  safely  to  the  Ordnance  officer, 
and  were  thanked  publicly  for  this  work  by  Gen. 
Rosecrans.  We  lay  on  the  field  that  night,  near 
the  dead  and  wounded,  where  the  fierce  battle 
?aged  during  the  day.  We  were  ordered  back 
early  New  Year’s  morning,  and  made  our  camp 
in  safety  at  H a.  m.,  both  tired  and  hungry.  This 
wag  a big  march  for  the  time,  54  miles  in  33 
besides  assisting  in  stopping  the  stampede. 


A NEW  YEAR  IN  DIXIE. 


281 


Twice  on  our  way  to  the  dont  that  day  were  we 
obliged  to  get  our  cannou  in  position  and  keep 
off  the  rebel  cavalry  from  our  train;  and  thrice 
had  we  to  do  the  same  on  our  return,  in  order  to 
keep  our  road  clear.  It  was  shortly  after  our  re- 
turn past  Lavergne  that  the  rebel  Gen.  Wheeler 
attacked  Col.  Innes’s  regiment  of  Engineers  and 
Mechanics,  and,  after  a fight  of  two  hours,  gave 
up  and  left  in  disgust.  Col.  Innes  and  his  regi- 
ment behaved  most  admirably,  making  a barri- 
cade with  their  wagons  and  felling  trees  to  con- 
nect them,  and  thus  keeping  at  bay  over  five  times 
their  number  of  trained  and  well-mounted  South- 
erners. Thus  was  spent  a New  Year’s  in  Dixie 
long  to  be  remembered  by  the  10th  Mich,  and  the 
1st  Mich  Engineers  and  Mechanics. 


m 


OTHER  STORIES. 


AT  FTtANTOJN. 


THE  TERRIBLE  SLAUGHTER  OF  THE  REBELS  IN 
FRONT  OF  THE  HASTILY-CONSTRUCTED  WORKS. 


By  Willard  Musson, 

First  Sergeant,  Co.  H,  107th  111. 

Editor  National  Tribune: 

It  was  afternoon  when  our  brigade — the  Second 
of  the  Second  Division,  Twenty-third  Corps — ar- 
rived on  the  Columbia  pike  at  the  outskirts  of 
Franklin.  We  filed  to  the  left  and  halted  on  a 
low,  level  piece  of  ground,  built  fires  and  made 
coffee.  While  we  were  eating,  some  wagons  were 
driven,  along  our  front,  from  which  picks  and 
shovels  were  thrown.  Hastily  swallowing  our 
crackers  and  coffee,  each  company,  without  or- 
ders, went  to  work  in  its  own  way  to  intrench 
the  line  indicated  by  the  scattered  tools.  Our 
company — H,  l<)7th  111. — procured  sufficient  rails 
to  construct  a breast,  or  fence,  covering  our  front, 
«oad  dirt  was  piled  against  this  on  the  outside. 

Meanwhile  Hood’s  men  could  seen  manu- 
vering  on  the  hill  west  of  us.  It  was  evident 
that  we  v^ould  build  the  works  as  begun  to 
the  proper  hight  in  time*  and  a ditch  was  dug 


AT  FRANKLIN. 


283 


on  the  inside,  m which  we  could  stand  with  our 
heads  on  the  level  requisite  for  our  protection. 
While  some  were  thus  engaged  others  tore  down 
buildings,  and  from  the  materials  obtained  con- 
structed boxes  or  troughs — “head  logs,”  we  called 
them.  These  were  placed  on  the  embankment, 
filled  with  earth,  and  rested  on  supports,  leaving 
a space  of  about  four  inches  through  which  to 
point  our  muskets. 

James  Burch,  or  “Uncle  Jim” — so-called  by 
reason  of  his  being  the  oldest  enlisted  man  in 
our  regiment — went  to  town  while  we  were  at 
work,  and  there  found  his  brother,  a citizen  of 
the  place,  whom  he  had  not  seen  for  years.  His 
visit  was  short.  He  came  back  as  we  were  com- 
pleting the  works.  Then  he,  “Laie”  Wise  and 
myself,  seated  on  the  works,  were  discussing  the 
probabilities  of  the  coming  engagement,  and 
watching  the  movements  of  the  enemy.  Uncle 
Jim  said,  pointing  to  the  ground  at  our  feeteT/ Tf* 

“Boys,  right  here  I did  my  first  drilling.  This 
is  where  I was  brought  up,  my  old  home,  and 
here  we  met  to  drill  on  muster  days.* 

Soon  our  skirmishers  were  driven  in  and  we 
hurriedly  completed  our  preparations,  each  indi- 
vidual arranging  his  accouterments  as  best  suited 
his  own  judgment.  Uncle  Jim,  Lafe  and  I plan- 
ned our  share  of  the  defense  in  unison,  Lafe 
fixed  hie  hat  conveniently  in  the  rails,  into 


284 


OTHER  STORIES. 


which  we  three  emptied  all  our  cartridges.  A 
tin  taken  from  a cartridge-box  was  placed  be- 
side the  hat  and  all  our  caps  poured  out  of  our 
pouches  into  it.  Poor  preparation  for  a retreat, 
the  reader  may  think.  The  183d  Ohio,  just  from 
home,  took  its  position  a few  yards  in  our  rear. 

Col.  0.  H.  Moore,  commanding  our  brigade,  now 
rode  along  the  line,  telling  the  men  to  hold  their 
fire  until  he  gave  the  word.  The  enemy’s  skir- 
mishers came  rapidly  forward,  without  firing  or 
being  fired  at.  They  walked  up  ©n  our  works, 
and  were  told  by  our  boys  to  get  out  of  our  way. 
Some  jumped  down  on  our  side,  and  others  back 
on  their  own.  There  was  no  time  to  take  care 
of  prisoners,  and  we  let  them  shift  for  them^plves. 

The  Confederate  lines,  three  in  number,  in 
plain  view,  marched  at  quick  time  and  in  gootf 
order.  Those  directly  in  our  front  were  mostly 
dressed  in  “butternut.”  “How  nicely  their  yel 
low  legs  keep  the  step!  How  wed  they  main 
tain  their  alignment.”  These  wp  my  thoughts 
as  I stood  at  a ready,  looking  out  under  the 
head-log,  scanning  the  advancing  faces. 

Where  is  Col.  Moore?  Why  don’t  he  order 
us  fire?  Nearer  they  come.  Has  he  forgotten? 
Stalk  nearer!  Won't  it  be  murder  to  fire  ink*  such 
closv  ranks?  Nearer  yet!  Are  we  going  to  sur- 
render? 

The  order,  “Fire!”  rings  out.  I fire  with  the 
rest,  and  while  biting  a cartridge  look  to  see  what 


AT  FRANKLIN. 


285 


“HERE  I SUSTAINED  MY  WOSlST  SCARE.’ 

execution  our  volley  has  done.  The  smoko  rises 
and  reveals  a fearful  scene.  Barely  a good  ,]X 
mish-rme  is  left  standing  of  their  first  Irne-oi- 
battle.  Thereafter  the  smoke  obscures  all  view 


OTHEK  STORIES, 

in.  our  immediate  front  until  darkness  covers  the 
scene. 

The  enemy  are  now  replying  to  our  fire,  and 
the  shots  that  pass  over  our  heads  are  telling  in 
the  ranks  of  the  183d  Ohio.  They  are  ordered  up 
to  our  support.  Our  men  make  them  lie  down  in 
our  rear,  take  their  loaded  guns,  and  pass  them 
our  empty  ones  to  reload.  Our  hatful  of  car- 
tridges and  the  caps  are  also  handed  back,  and 
thereafter  the  front  line  of  our  boys  attend  only 
to  firing  the  muskets  handed  them  from  the  rear. 

Here  I sustained  my  worst  scare.  As  the  183d 
came  up,  a glance  to  the  rear  revealed  a Ger- 
man Sergeant  of  that  regiment  standing  behind 
me,  his  bayonet  almost  touching  my  back.  He 
was  trembling  with  excitement,  had  his  gun 
cocked,  and  his  finger  on  the  trigger.  I invited 
him  to  sit  down  in  a hurry.  I took  his  gun  and 
fired  it,  and  set  him  to  reloading.  I also  drank 
his  canteen  of  water,  for  which  I would  like  to 
tl?jank  him  personally  if  he  is  yet  living.  He 
soon  cooled  down,  and  after  dark,  realizing  that 
my  shoulder  was  becoming  lame  from  the  re- 
coil of  the  musket,  I gave  him  my  place  in  front, 
wh"«*«  he  acted  like  a veteran. 

Earlier  in  the  engagement  my  attrition  was 
t lifted  to  our  >eft,  where  , Jie  enemy  h^d  broken 
ovpf  Sne  and  were  pouring  ©nr  work®.  They 
wet#  rapidly  forming  a line  at  a right  angle  to 
ours,  and  were  delivering  a murderous  enfilading 


AT  F2A$K:L£S. 


2a? 

fire.  I thought  the  day  lost,  and  looked  for  the 
nearest  street  leading  to  the  river,  intending  to 
abandon  my  personal  camp  and  garrison  equi- 
page and  try  swimming.  At  that  instant  I sighted 
a brigade  of  the  Fourth  Corps  advancing  to  retake 
the  works.  Its  rapid  movements,  determined 
cheers,  and  entire  absence  of  stragglers  assured 
the  safety  of  that  part  of  the  line.  I turned  to 
my  work  with  no  further  thought  of  retreat. 

About  dark  our  ammunition  was  exhausted, 
and  orders  came  to  send  a detail  for  more.  I 
hastily  selected  for  the  duty  three  comrades  that 
I knew  would  return,  if  living,  through  that  ter- 
rible storm  of  bullets.  Lafe  Wise  was  one,  and, 
if  memory  serves  me,  Elsbery  Quick  and  Serg’t 
McGraffey  were  the  other  two.  Each  returned  in 
safety,  bringing  a supply  of  cartridges.  The  bag 
Lafe  carried  was  perforated  with  one  or  more  bul- 
lets while  in  transit  on  his  shoulder. 

It  may  have  been  10  o’clock  or  later  when  < a t. 
Kidd,  of  our  company,  instructed  me  tn  look 
sharp  for  a movement  of  the  company  on  our  right, 
and  to  follow  it  in  retreat.  But  my  musket  was 
out  of  fix,  and  while  I was  groping  in  the  ditch, 
feeling  for  a better  one,  the  regiment  had  silently 
moved  off  in  the  dark,  leaving  three  companies 
behind.  Word  was  hastily  passed  aiong  the  linec 
and  we  moved  in  the  direction  of  the  nve r. 

Meau  while  I found,  as  I thought,  Henry  Kidney ? 
one  oi  our  last  recruits,  a mere  boy,  who  had 


288 


OTHER  STORIES. 


been  with  us  through  the  Atlanta  campaign.  I 
had  made  him  the  object  of  my  especial  care, 
and  was  then  pulling  him  along,  keeping  him 
close  to  my  side.  As  we  neared  the  light  of  a 
fire  burning  at  the  bridge  I was  dismayed  to  find 
that  I was  piloting  a strange  boy  of  Henry’s  size, 
belonging  to  another  regiment.  A hurried  search 
disclosed  the  fact  that  Henry  was  not  with  us. 
After  the  battle  of  Nashville  we  passed  back  over 
the  same  ground,  took  up  our  dead  and  reburied 
them.  Henry  was  identified  among  the  number. 

Daylight  next  morning  found  us  on  the  road  to 
Nashville,  and  revealed  a number  of  Confeder- 
ates marching  contentedly  in  our  ranks.  Ques- 
tioning one  of  them  I elicited  the  information 
ths,*  he  belonged  to  the  33d  Miss,  and  was  in  the 
skirmish-line,  and  their  reason  for  coming  up  on 
air  works  as  they  did  was  that  they  expected  us 
co  surrender  without  firing  a sLot.  It  also 
revealed  the  fact  that  the  boys  of  the  107th  HI. 
were  nois  willing  to  let  an  opportunity  pass  for 
making  a good  trade,  even  in  an  engagement  like 
this,  Wk  went  into  the  fight  with  our  old  Enfield 
fifies-,  now,  many  of  us  had  new  Springfield 
murikets,  and  instead  of  a collapsed  knapsack 
or  a roll  of  blankets  over  our  shoulders,  many 
of  us  were  now  seen  loaded  with  fat  knapsacks 
cd  which  were  printed  in  conspicuous  letters  Co, 
A,  C or  G,  183d  Ohio. 


AT  FRANKLIN. 


289 


Writing  of  Uncle  Jim  recalls  an  incident  tin  J 
occurred  later.  We  were  in  Washington  en  routj 
for  North  Carolina,  aiid  had  just  piled  out  of  c 
train  of  freight  cars,  in  which  we  had  been  hauled 
from  Cincin«@M*  Our  regiment  was  gassing  thrt 


290 


OTHER  STORIES. 


Capitol  Building,  on  the  steps  of  which  stood 
President  Lincoln.  When  just  opposite  him 
Uncle  Jim  looked  up  and,  recognizing  in  the  Presi- 
dent an  old-time  acquaintance,  ‘saluted  him  in 
these  words: 

“How  are  you,  Abe?” 

He  did  not  for  a moment  think  of  the  differ- 
ence in  their  rank.  Nor  was  it  apparent  that  the 
President,  as  he  stepped  down  and  warmly  grasp- 
ed “Jim’s”  hand,  kindly  drew  him  from  the  ranks 
and  detained  him  for  a few  moments’  conversa- 
tion, realized  the  difference  any  more  than  did 
Uncle  Jim.  The  latter  subsequently  informed 
us  that  his  shoe  store  in  Springfield  was  next 
door  to  Mr.  Lincoln’s  office,  and  that  he  had  made 
many  pairs  of  boots  for  him  there. 


PODUNKSBURG. 


201 


PODUNKSBUEG. 


A MODEL  REPORT  OF  AN  EPOCH-MAKING  AND 
SANGUINARY  ENGAGEMENT. 


Bt  Ctn  Bono, 
107th  Oshkosh  Vols. 


Editor  National  Tribune: 

The  literary  event  of  the  past  year  has  Been  the 
publication  of  numerous  treatises  on  the  battle 
of  Podunksburg.  The  bald-headed  literati  have 
certainly  performed  their  task  with  neatness  and 
dispatch.  This  assertion  may  be  considered 
cum  grano  salis. 

I am  actuated  by  no  Base  motive  in  presenting 
my  views  of  this  battle.  The  pen,  when  man- 
aged by  a person  of  long  experience  and  sound 
judgment,  is  generally  a success.  My  views 
may  not  exactly  dove-tail  with  history;  but  that’s 
history’s  fault,  not  mine.  ! was  there,  and  his- 
tory did  not  show  up  until  after  the  trouble  was 
over. 

This  Bat£e  is  unparjlleled  ifi  thfi  annals  o! 
warfeifc — they  aw  %dting  it  <>#?  yet; 
Bcsi  I shall  be  as  modest  in  my  statement  of  facts 
as  circumstances  will  permit.  Without  fear  of 


292 


OTHER  STORIES. 


successful  contradiction,  I boldly  assert  that 
what  I don’t  know  about  the  battle  of  Podunks- 
burg  will  puzzle  the  professional  critic — every- 
thing goes. 

Podunksburg  is  situated  in  a valley  rich  in  re- 
sources and  organic  matter.  The  topography  of 
the  country  is  such  as  to  impress  one  with  the 
belief  that  if  a battle  was  fought  here  somebody 
would  probably  get  licked. 

On  the  south  is  a ridge  of  high  ground  called 
Raccoon  Ridge,  and  on  the  east  a hill,  its  base 
washed  by  Goose  Creek.  Near  the  western  base 
of  Raccoon  Ridge  is  a well-defined  grove.  From 
this  grove,  nearly  due  south  about  a mile  and  a 
half,  rises  Oval  Top  Mountain,  ir.  This  mount- 
ain resembles  a huge  abdomen,  thickly  inter- 
spersed with  rocks.  It  was  the  key-note  of  our 
success. 

Gen.  Reade’s  army  was  so  well  concealed  that 
for  several  days  the  enemy  searched  the  country 
over  before  he  found  any  portion  of  it.  Finally  he 
succeeded  in  flushing  a covey  near  Podunksburg. 
The  fighting  was  severe,  with  the  usual  results. 
Late  that  evening  Gen.  Buncomb  safely  con- 
ducted his  troops  to  Raccoon  Ridge,  where  he 
selected  a position.  During  the  night  Gen.  Pea- 
cock arrived  on  the  field,  with  orders  from  Gen. 
Reade  to  select  a position  and  hurry  up  the  bal- 
ance of  our  troops.  You  will  please  observe  (hat 
our  army  was  well  supplied  with  positions,  with- 


PODUNKSBUKG. 


293 


out  mentioning  several  good  ones  in  the  rear. 

Our  corps  arrived  on  the  field  next  morning 
in  time  for  breakfast.  Let  us  briefly  pause  and 
study  the  surroundings.  Behind  us  Raccoon 
Ridge  gracefully  winds  its  way  through  the  val- 
ley. To  our  left  majestically  rises  the  steep  wall 
of  Oval  Top,  jr.,  its  peak  glimmering  in  the  sun- 
light like  a wart  on  a mule’s  nose.  In  front  is 
the  shimmering  green  of  the  fields,  and  beyond 
the  undulated  meadowTs  the  fence-corners  stand 
clear-cut  against  the  blue  sky.  To  our  right  the 
village  of  Podunksburg  nestles  upon  the  bosom 
of  mother  earth.  This  may  seem  improbable,  but 
it’s  a fact.  The  soft,  warm  air  gently  fans  our 
locks,  while  the  industrious  caterpillar  rambles 
amidst  the  recesses  of  our  trousers.  Oh!  ’twas 
just  splendid! 

After  a desultory  examination  of  the  field,  Gen. 
Reade  directed  his  corps  commanders  to  prepare 
for  a hostile  movement  and  to  postpone  all  offens- 
ive operations.  Gen.  Pickles,  our  corps  com- 
mander, was  generally  found  moving  about  in  the 
best  society.  He  was  as  courageous  as  J.  Cesar. 
At  the  battle  of  Podunksburg  he  was  left  to  his 
own  resources.  The  line  was  expected  to  oc- 
cupy was  n«>t  i*  good  o&e— the  ground  was  low 
and  unhealthy.  Circumstances  pointed  to  a 
“salient”;  his  troops  demanded  a “salient,”  and 
even  the  "‘salient”  itself,  with  an  air  of  enticing 
mystery,  beckoned  him  forward.  Should  he  let 


294 


OTHER  STORIES. 


the  prize  slip  from  his  grasp?  Several  t«u.es  no! 
This  “salient”  subject  had  corrugated  many 
noble  intellects,  but  £ am  free  from  personal  con- 
cern in  this  respect,  and  believe  that  “salient” 
was  an  important  factor  in  the  events  about  to 
transpire.  The  forces  which  dispose  the  sur- 


face of  the  earth  generally  so  act  as  to  produce 
“salients.”  This  was  a fighting  “salient,”  con- 
trolled by  the  contour  of  the  ground,  and  affording 
many  advantages.  A rapid  movement  forward,  a 
readjustment  of  the  lines,  and  the  “salient”  was 
ours. 


PODUNKSBURG. 


295 


Nature  had  dealt  kindly  by  this  “salient,”  and 
dressed  it  in  the  garb  of  an  orchard.  As  we 
gazed  upon  its  manifold  charms  we  drew  our 
breath  in  great  gulps  of  happiness,  and  swore  we 
would  cling  to  it — until  temporarily  robbed  of  it. 

The  old  smoothbore  brigade  was  happy.  Our 
line-of-battle  resembled  a barbed-wire  fence;  its 
right  resting  in  air,  its  left  refused.  The  student 
will  observe  that  our  formation  was  what  is  com- 
monly termed  a double-header,  enabling  us  to 
fight  either  end  to — a favorite  coup  de  grace. 

While  we  lay  in  waiting  the  moments  sped  by 
just  as  they  always  do.  Finally,  Gen.  Pickles 
sent  the  following  dispatch  to  Gen.  Reade: 

“In  the  Field. 

“Gen.  Reade — Sir:  If  not  attacked,  shall  I hold 
my  position?  It’s  getting  late,  and  I am  anxious 
to  finish  up  this  job  and  get  home  in  time  to  do 
my  chores. 

“Respectfully,  PiekJcs.” 

Gen.  Reade  replied  as  follows? 

“Dear  General:  Don’t  do  anything  rash.  If  you 
have  in  your  possession  some  first-class  finecut, 
pleas*  me  a chew. 

“Tours,  Reade.” 

It  is  proper  to  state,  ia  this  connection,  that 
these  dispatches — “slender  threads  upon  which 
the  fate  of  Nations  hung”— have  never  before 
been  given  to  the  public. 


296 


OTHER  STORIES. 


About  4 p.  m.  Gen.  Von  Unocker  dashed  up  to 
the  107th  Oshkosh  and,  saluting,  said: 

‘‘Private  Bono,  arm  yourself  with  a mustard 
plaster,  step  five  paces  to  the  front,  and  endeavor 
to  draw  the  enemy’s  fire.  I will  support  you  with 
my  entire  command  if  necessary. 

Now,  Bono,  steel  thy  fearful  thoughts, 

And  change  misdoubt  to  resolution. 

I immediately  obeyed,  when  suddenly  the 
enemy  uttered  a shrill  yell  that  jarred  the  County- 
seat  and  made  our  blood  run  cold.  Then  the  ar- 
tillery opened  with  a roar  that  shook  the  earth 
and  filled  our  socks  with  sand.  The  goose-  flesh 
rose  on  my  body  until  you  could  hang  a cart- 
ridge-box on  me  almost  anywhere.  It  was  just 
simply  awful.  The  onset  was  so  violent  that 
where  the  lines  came  in  contact  they  bulged  up 
in  the  middle,  lifting  several  regiments  off  their 
feet.  I had  several  very  iiair-breadth  escapes.  A 
shell  burst  in  my  canteen,  and  another  cut  my 
shoe-strings.  My  clothing  was  perforated  27  or  28 
times,  yet  I escaped  injury. 

Capt.  Q.  Cumber’s  battery  fought  valiantly. 
When  their  ammunition  became  exhausted  the 
gunners  fired  post-hole^  a*zh  prcdanivj  *mh  as- 
tonishing results. 

Generally  speaking,  a “salient”  has  a point. 
Ours  had  several;  at  least,  we  thought  it  had  aa 
we  saliented  back  toward  Raccoon  Ridge  with 


PODUNKSBURGK 


297 


the  enemy’s  bayonets  caressing  our  coat-tails. 
Shortly  after  we  dropped  astern  the  struggle 
ceaS'ed — throughly  worn  out  on  the  point  of  the 
‘salient.”  If  we  had  not  retired,  I have  no  doubt 
the  result  would  have  been  different.  In  its  gen- 
eral results  the  advantage  was  with  the  “salient.” 

While  we  wTere  feeding  the  flames  of  heroism  at 
whe  altar  of  devotion  our  loss  was  terrible.  That 
evening,  amidst  the  hush  of  the  stilly  twilight, 
that  sort  of  thing,  our  Captain  reported  one 
man  for  duty,  and  as  he  was  suffering  with 
acute  attack  of  metaphysics,  it  was  thought  ad- 
visable to  send  him  to  the  hospital  for  repairs. 
All  the  rest  were  killed,  wounded  or  missing — 
probably  missing. 

I will  now  give  the  second  day’s  fight  a rest 
and  pass  rapidly  to  the  third.  The  fracas  on 
the  third  opened  mild  and  gentle  in  its  inception, 
fet  latsr  on  it  cpits  boisterous.  The 

principal  assault  was  made  against  that  part  of 
our  line  commanded  by  Gen.  Peacock  and  his  As- 
sistant Adjutant-General.  Gen.  Peacock  was  one 
o$  nature’s  noblemen.  Evgn  to  this  d&y  his  sob 
dierly  reputation  has  an  enormous  circulation. 

Previous  tt>  the  assault  the  artillery  ®awed  the 
air  and  split  the  horizon  with  its  clarion  notes. 
Shells  dropped  in  among  us  and  rolled  around 
i&ke  footballs,  reducing  to  a minimum  the  prob- 
^SBIity  that  any  of  us  would  ever  again  be  called 
to  i^y  poll-tax.  The  air  was  so  full  of  mis- 


Oil  1 1:1.  STORIES. 


2D« 

silos  that  it  was  impossible  for  them  all  to  pass 
each  other  in  their  maddening  flight 

When  our  Chief  of  Artillery  discovered  this  fact, 
he  ordered  his  batteries  to  fire  grape  and  canis- 
ter, with  a view  of  sifting  his  small  shot  through 
the  larger  projectiles  of  the  enemy.  We  were  soon 
enveloped  in  clouds  of  smoke  which  smelled  like 
the  muzzle  of  an  old  shot-gun. 

Most  writers  on  military  ethics  claim  that  the 
advance  of  the  enemy  on  the  3d  was  an  inspiring 
sight.  I fail  to  see  it.  In  fact,  we  wished  the 
enemy  would  retire  and  leave  us  in  comfortable 
possession  of  the  field.  As  for  myself,  I do  not 
remember  that  I ever  experienced  a more  severe 
attack  of  nostalgia  (see  Webster)  in  the  same 
period  of  time.  Of  course,  if  victory  didn’t  perch 
on  our  side  of  the  fence  we  wanted  to  die,  but 
we  were  in  no  great  rush  about  it — we  preferred 
to  die  of  extreme  old  age.  The  heroes  of  to-day 
are  different.  They  are  just  as  courageous,  but 
they  generally  write  a book  or  die  of  political 
malaria.  While  we  ax$  flinging  our  opinions 
over  toward  history’s  altar,  expecting  them  to 
catch  on  some  unoccupied  corner,  we  should  re- 
member that  truth  is  the  foundation  ol  every  vir- 
tue. 

The  enemy’s  assault  failed  to  connect,  with 
more  or  less  disaster  as  the  result.  The  prime 
fault  was  in  the  fact  that  we  refused  to  vacate 
the  premises.  Finally  the  enemy  abandoned  the 


/ 


PODUNKSBURG. 


299 


attempt  to  dislocate  us,  and  started  his  impedi- 
menta off  at  a gallop.  This  naturally  compelled 
us  to  remain  where  we  were  untih  we  got  ready  to 
move. 

“Was  the  battle  a decisive  one?”  We  should  Be 
considerate  and  forgiving  in  little  matters,  but 
I hope  the  critic  who  asks  this  question  is  not  a 
candidate  for  any  office  within  the  gift  of  the 
American  people.  It  may  not  have  been  a regu- 
lar up-and-up  knockout,  clad  in  a winning  smile; 
still,  it  was  decisive  enough  for  ordinary  mortals, 
with  several  back  Counties  to  hear  from.  Per- 
haps it  was  not  quite  as  shapely  about  the  waist 
as  other  armies  might  desire,  but  it  suited  us  tip- 
top. There  was  victory  enough  won  at  Podunks- 
burg  to  go  all  ’round. 

I have  thus  touched  lightly  some  of  the  salient 
points  in  the  numerous  contributions  to  the  his- 
tory of  this  battle.  If  my  account  fills  a niche 
in  the  archives  of  the  .controversy,  I shall  feel 
tickled.  When  a man  frankly  points  out  the  er- 
rors and  irregularities  of  the  less  informed,  if  there 
is  any  way  of  letting  him  off  easy  it  should  be 
adopted. 


300 


OTHER  STORIES. 


TROOPERS  IN  TROUBLE. 


CAMPAIGNING  IN  THE  FAR  SOUTHWEST  WAS  FULL 
OF  VICISSITUDES. 


By  Robert  W.  Miller, 
Co.  E,  6th  M.  S.  M.  Cav. 


Editor  National  Tribune : 

In  the  Winter  of  1863-4  my  regiment  was  sta- 
tioned at  Springfield,  Mo.,  and  during  the  latter 
part  of  the  winter  Capt.  S.  E.  Turner,  of  Co.  D, 
was  sent  with  about  96  men  to  carry  dis- 
patches from  Springfield,  Mo.,  to  Batesville,  Ark. 
I was  one  of  the  boys  detailed  for  the  trip.  We 
had  no  trouble  until  we  had  made  about  half  the 
distance.  I think  we  had  been  out  about  two 
days,  and  were  in  the  vicinity  of  the  State  line, 
when  our  advance-guard  suddenly  came  face  to 
face  with  two  rebels  in  the  road.  Both  parties 
being  taken  by  surprise,  it  was  a moment  before 
either  spoke.  The  spell  was  at  last  broken  by 
one  of  the  guards  leafing  his  gun  at  the  Johnnies 
and  or^eiing  an  unconditional  surrender,  jfhis 
was  obeyed  by  on**  of  the  reb*,  but  the  Other 
turned  his  horse  abruptly  around  and  “lit  trot.” 
Private  A.  Kayser  gave  chase,  and  an  exciting 
race  followed.  Tho  rebel  Captain  would  soon 


TROOPERS  IN  TROUBLE. 


801 


have  Been  Kayser’s  “meat”  if  it  had  not  been  for 
an  accident  which  surprised  the  whole  com- 
mand. Kayser’s  mare  stumbled,  and  in  falling 
struck  her  head  against  a rock,  crushing  her  skull. 
So  the  Captain  got  away,  and  Kayser  had  to  pro- 
vide himself  with  a fresh  horse. 

This  was  the  beginning  of  a series  of  adven- 
tures which  ' lasted  through  the  entire  trip  to 
Batesville.  From  our  prisoner  we  learned  that 
the  rebel  Col.  Freeman,  with  about  800  men,  was 
between  us  and  our  destination ; a piece  of  news 
which  was  by  no  means  encouraging.  It  looked 
a little  like  madness  for  90  men  to  attempt  to 
force  their  way  through,  in  the  face  of  such  over- 
powering numbers.  But  our  brave  Capt.  Tur- 
ner was  equal  to  the  emergency,  and  mounting 
his  horse  and  placing  himself  at  the  head  of  the 
column,  he  gave  the  command  to  go  forward, 
which  was  obeyed  with  a will. 

Our  route  lay  through  a broken,  rocky  country, 
and  it  seemed  to  me  that  the  farther  we  went  the 
worse  it  got.  At  almost  every  house  the  John- 
nies could  be  seen  “skipping”  out  when  we  put 
in  our  appearance.  We  occasionally  “took  one 
in,”  but  did  not  go  out  of  our  way  after  them. 
It  seemed  that  Freeman’s  men  had  enlisted 
from  this  part  of  the  country,  and  were  all  at 
home  on  furlough.  It  was  the  most  exciting  trip 
I ever  made.  We  were  in  a tight  place,  and  we 
knew  it,  but  trusted  to  the  good  sense  of  out 


802 


OTHER  STORIES 


biare  Captain,  and  he  took  us  through  to  Bates- 
rille  in  safety. 

We  came  suddenly  upon  one  of  Freeman’s 
picket-posts  one  night,  running  the  men  into  their 
camp,  which  was  only  about  half  a mile  away. 
We  passed  by  and  rode  seyen  or  eight  miles  to  a 
house,  where  we  found  plenty  of  feed  for  our  horses, 
but  we  had  scarcely  got  our  horses  unbridled  be- 
fore bang!  bang!  went  the  guns  in  our  rear.  We 
fell  in  and  stood  the  Southern  gents  off  until  our 
almost-exhausted  horses  had  eaten  and  rested 
up  a little,  when  we  again  mounted,  and  that 
day  rode  safely  into  Batesville  with  ten  or  a 
dozen  prisoners. 

We  lay  in  Batesville  some  three'days,  took  a good 
rest,  and  the  commander  of  the  post  sent  an  es- 
cort of  400  of  the  1st  Neb.  Cav.  to  help  us  through 
the  dangerous  part  of  our  journey  back  to  Spring- 
field.  On  our  way  back  we  ran  foul  of  the  rebel 
Freeman  and  his  command  and  scattered  them 
to  the  four  winds,  We  captured  many  of  them 
and  burned  their  train.  We  then  left  our  escort, 
and  the  original  9Q  started  for  Springfield  by  way 
of  Forsythe. 

Before  we  reached  the  latter  place,  however,  we 
learned  that  the  White  River  was  high,  and  know- 
ing that  there  was  i«o  ferry  at  that  place,  we  turn- 
ed to  the  Ich  and  stiisck  the  river  in  a bend  some 
distance  ; the  wes*  It  was  aV  ut  sundow  \ 
wkN  ?q  arrive*?  i ifce  river  found  i^y 


TROOPERS  IN  TROUBLE. 


SOS 


of  crossing,  as  the  river  was  too  full  to  think  of 
fording.  We  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  go  into 
camp  for  the  night.  The  next  morning  found  U3 


in  a bend  of  White  River  somewhat  in  the 
shape  of  a horseshoe:  our  position  being  at  or 
near  the  “toe”  and  the  space  between  the  “calks” 
occupied  by  a band  of  rebel  bushwhackers,  whose 


304  OTHER  STORIES. 

numbers  were  rapidly  increasing  every  hour. 
Here  we  were  in  a trap,  as  it  were,  but  not  des- 
tined to  stay  caught.  Our  Captain  was  a Yan- 
kee, and  had  no  doubt  in  those  grand  old  days 
“before  the  wah”  palmed  off  many  a wooden  nut- 
meg upon  the  Southern  gentry,  and  why  not  out- 
wit them  now? 

We  soon  took  in  the  situation,  and  each  one 
cast  an  anxious  look  to  the  opposite  bank 
of  the  stream.  For  my  part,  I felt  that  I had 
business  in  Springfield  which  needed  my  im- 
mediate attention,  but  between  pie  and  Spring- 
field  there  seemed  to  be  an  impassable  gulf. 
The  Captain  realized  the  fact  that  there  was  a 
chance  for  us  to  do  much  worse  than  to  cross 
White  River,  even  though  it  was  nearly  at  full 
banks.  The  fact  is,  it  was  a “ground-hog  case” — 
the  river  had  to  be  crossed. 

We  managed  to  obtain  two  old  dugout  canoes, 
with  which  three  men  could  manage  to  cross  in 
each  at  once.  But  there  wTere  90  of  us,  with 
horses  and  equipments — how  would  we  get  them 
over?  This  question  was  solved  by  the  Captain, 
who  ordered  a raft  constructed  large  enough  for 
the  saddles  and  other  equipage.  In  about  an 
hour  we  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  all  our 
blankets,  saddles,  etc.,  safely  landed  on  the  op- 
posite shore  of  the  river.  The  next  thing  was  to 
turn  the  horses  loose  and  whoop  them  into  the 
river.  They  all  swam  across  in  safety,  and  were 


TKOOPERS  IN  TKOUBLE. 


305 


caught  and  tied  up  by  the  comrades  who  had 
been  set  across  for  that  purpose. 

During  all  this  time  the  bushwhackers  were 
busily  banging  away  at  us  from  an  eminence  in 


TIOS  CAPTAIN  MAKES  REMARKS. 


i,uY  rear,  but  our  skirmishers  managed  to  hold 
them  back  during  the  entire  day  while  those  old, 
dugouts  were  ferrying  us  oyer.  I was  not  used 


306 


OTHER  STORIES. 


to  riding  in  such  magnificent  style,  and  the  Boat 
being  inclined  to  rock  I was  ordered  to  lie  flat 
down  in  the  bottom,  which  I did.  I could  not 
swim,  and  I knew  that  if  I was  spilled  out  in  that 
stream  I would  be  a goner.  You  may  imagine 
the  state  of  my  mind  while  making  the  voyage. 
1 was  so  excited  that  no  sooner  had  the  bow 
touched  the  shore  than  I arose  and  got  out,  but  in 
doing  so  managed  to  upset  the  thing,  giving 
my  comrades  a thorough  wetting.  For  about  five 
minutes  the  air  was  thick  with  compliments  from 
all  on  both  sides  of  the  river.  Even  the  Captain 
spoke  of  the  event  in  such  a way  that  I was 
ever  afterward  constrained  to  look  upon  him  as  a 
strong  believer  in  a place  of  future  punish- 
ment “where  the  worm  dieth  not  and  the  fire  is 
not  quenched/’  and  it  seemed  that  there  was  at 
least  one  of  his  soldiers  that  he  was  willing  to 
consign  to  that  place. 

Just  at  sundown  the  Captain  with  the  last  boat 
load  landed  safely,  and  we  immediately  mounted 
and  gave  three  cheers  for  the  Union  in  the  face 
of  the  disappointed  foe.  Then  we  matched  away 
toward  our  Headquarter*  in  Springfield,  where 
landed  in  due  time,  thus  ending  a most 
eventlul  trip. 


HEADING  OFF  LEE. 


807 


HEADING  OFF  LEE, 


THE  GRAND  HUNT  OF  THE  CAVALRY  FROM 
PETERSBURG  TO  APPOMATTOX 


By  C.  W.  Wiles, 

10th  N.  Y.  Cav..  Cortland,  N.  Y. 


Editor  National  Tribune: 

Wednesday  morning,  March  29,  1865,  found  the 
Cavalry  Corps  prepared  to  abandon  its  comfortable 
Winter  quarters  on  the  Jerusalem  plank  road 
and  under  command  of  that  best  of  all  cav- 
alry officers,  Sheridan,  ready  for  the  final 
campaign  of  the  war.  Five  days’  rations  and 
four  days’  forage  were  distributed  and  each  man 
supplied  with  ail  the  ammunition  he  could  stow 
away.  The  column  took  up  its  line  of  march 
on  the  Jerusalem  plank  road  and  thence  across 
the  country  to  Reams’s  Station.  Just  at  night 
we  reached  Dinwiddie  Courthouse  and  went  into 
camp. 

The  next  day  found  us  inactive,  but  supporting 
the  First  Division  of  Cavalry,  who  were  having 
some  fighting  in  ou?  front.  Having  changed 
e-amp  a s-kv-rt  aistano©,  we  tvere  compelled  to 
pass  the  night  in  a cornfield  that  had  been 
tramples  into  a vernujle  mud  ho**.  Rails 


S08 


OTHER  STORIES. 


Backloads  of  tobacco  made  places  for  us  to  sleep. 
The  next  worning  (March  31)  we  were  ready 
for  business,  but  were  not  called  upon  until 
about  2 p.  m.,  when  we  moved  out,  and  after 
several  counter-marches  formed  in  a small  field. 
Numbers  1,  2 and  3 dismounted  and  No.  4 held 
horses.  Heavy  firing  was  heard  on  our  right. 
While  the  dismounted  men  were  forming  I re- 
member hearing  a Confederate  band  over  in  the 
woods  in  our  front  playing  “Dixie,”  while  in  our 
rear  our  bands  discoursed  National  airs.  Soon 
we  were  advanced  down  to  the  edge  of  the  woods 
near  a rail  fence,  which  we  had  hardly  reached 
when  a volley  of  musketry  from  an  infantry  line- 
of-battle  was  poured  into  our  thin  line  of  cavalry, 
that  nearly  took  them  off  their  feet.  In  a very 
brief  space  of  time  we  were  swept  back  across 
the  field  and  into  the  woods,  where  we  made  a 
stand  and  checked  the  Confederate  advance. 
We  soon  discovered  that  our  left  flank  was 
threatened,  and  a portion  of  our  command  swung 
back  and  faced  to  the  left.  The  enemy  now  had 
covered  the  road  in  our  rear  and  cut  off  the  re- 
treat of  our  ambulance  and  wounded  men. 

\ A correspondent  of  the  New  York  Herald,  who 
was  with  our  regiment,  doubted  the  report  that 
the  enemy  was  on  our  left  and  rear,  and  deter- 
mined to  ride  back  and  see  for  himself,  against 
the  advice  of  the  officers.  Away  he  galloped 
down  the  road  and  over  a knoll,  when  we  heard 


HEADING  OFF  LEE  309 

three  or  four  shots,  and  he  came  back  with  a 
bullet  in  his  shoulder.  His  first  remark  was: 

“I  found  them!” 


‘•I  FOUND  ’EM.” 


Skirmishing  was  kept  up  for  sometime,  and 
just  at  night  we  wrere  withdrawn  by  a circuitous 
nweJa  to  the  right.  We  halted  in  the  rear  of 
Dinwindie  Courthouse,  &adly  broken  up.  Nearly 
the  entire  safght  was  consumed  in  rallying  the 
different  sediments  f&ound  their  colors.  Tha 
next  morning  we  marched  past  the  Courthouse 
and  formed  in  an  open  field,  where  we  remained 
all  day,  while  the  divisions  of  Custer,  Merritt  and 


S10 


OTHER  STORIES. 


Kautz,  with  the  assistance  of  the  infantry,  fought 
and  won  the  splendid  victory  of  Five  Forks. 

Monday,  April  3,  we  marched  over  the  battle- 
field of  Five  Forks  and  on  faT Sutherland’s  Sta- 

*L. 

tion.  Pushing  on  past  the  infantry  we  started 
on  the  race  for  Appomattox.  We  marched  until 
midnight,  and  were  on  the  warpath  again  the 
next  morning  at  4 o’clock.  Marching  in  a south- 
westerly direction  we  crossed  the  Danville  Rail- 
road near  Burksville  and  bivouacked  for  the 
night  near  Jetersville. 

April  5,  Davis’s  Brigade,  consisting  of  the  1st 
Me.,  1st  N.  J.,  10th  N.  Y.,  and,  I think,  the  1st 
Pa.  Cav.,  left  camp  at  daylight.  Near  Painsville 
we  struck  the  rebel  wagon  trains,  capturing  five 
pieces  of  artillery  and  destroying  about  180 
wagons.  Some  of  them  were  Lee’s  Headquarter 
wagons.  We  also  took  many  Confederate  battle- 
flags  and  other  trophies,  and  about  400  prisoners. 
With  these  and  the  captured  cannon  we  started 
back,  our  regiment  being  ordered  to  guard  the 
prisoners  and  guns. 

My  diary  shows  that  I had  two  Confederate 
officers  in  charge — Capt.  E.  A.  Semple  and  Lieut. 
R.  H.  Sims,  of  the  Confederate  States  Quarter- 
master Department,  both  of  them  polished 
gentlemen,  who  took  their  capture  with  the  best 
possible  grace.  On  our  return  our  regiment  took 
the  advance  with  the  prisoners  and  guns,  while 
the  *est  of  the  brigade  covered  the  rear.  When 


IEADINO  OFP  I. EE 


311 


about  half  way  to  camp,  with  only  a small  squad 
of  men  ,for  advance-guard,  we  heard  tiring  in  our 
front.  Gen.  Davis  ordered  up  the  1st  N.  J.  and 
tlie  1st  Pa.,  who  passed  us  at  a gallop.  Forming 
a line  they  gave  the  enemy  a mounted  charge  in 
gallant  style,  driving  them  completely  back,  so 
that  we  passed  in  safety  with  our  trophies.  But 
the  1st  N.  J.  met  a sad  loss  in  the  death  of  its 
brave  and  gallant  Colonel,  Hugh  Janeway,, who 
fell  while  leading  his  men.  When  near  camp  we 
met  a brigade  of  infantry  coming  to  our  aid.  Re- 
turning to  our  night’s  camp  we  found  the  entire 
army  had  arrived. 

The  next  morning  we  encountered  the  enemy 
near  Sailor’s  Creek.  Closing  around  the  Confed- 
erates and  their  wagon  trains,  the  divisions  of 
Crook,  Custer  and  Devens  cut  off  their  advance, 
while  the  Sixth  Corps  crossed  upon  their  rear. 
Their  struggles  to  cut  their  way  through  the  en- 
veloping cavalry  lines  were  desparate,  but  in 
vain,  and  when  night  closed  over  the  scene 
Gen.  Ewell  and  6,000  m6n  were  prisoners.  Twenty 
pieces  of  artillery  were  captured  and  400  wagons 
destroyed.  We  rested  for  the  [night,  [conscious 
that  the  end  was  near.  We  met  but  little  resist- 
ance from  the  rear-guard  of  the  enemy  the  next 
day.  The  straggling  and  wornout  soldiers  were 
found  in  great  numbers— so  many,  in  fact,  that 
we  made  no  attempt  to  gather  them  in.  On  our 
approach  to  Fari&ville  grand  sight  met  out 


OTHER  STORIES. 


eyes.  Almost  at  our  feet  lay  the  Beautiful 
town,  with  the  Appomattox  River  winding  through 
it.  Just  below  the  village  was  the  long,  high 
railroad  bridge  spanning  the  river.  This  bridge 
was  filled  with  railroad  cars  and  locomotives, 
and  all  on  fire.  As  one  span  after  another 
burned  through  the  [mass  fell  into  the  river  be- 
low. Beyond  the  town  was  seen  the  retreating 
enemy.  Our  battery  was  soon  in  position  and 
shells  were  thrown  over  the  town  into  the  fields 
and  woods  beyond.  Our  regiment  was  ordered  to 
charge  into  the  town,  but  the  only  foe  they  found 
wf  s in  the  large  hospitals  filled  with  sick  and 
wounded  Confederates — sad  reminders  of  the 
many  hard  day3  of  fighting  past. 

Our  command  soon  passed  through  the  town, 
fording  the  river,  which  was  up  to  our  hoises’ 
sides.  We  formed  on  the  plain  beyond  and 
boiled  coffee  while  other  troops  came  up.  Gregg’® 
Brigade  passed  us  and  pushed  into  the  woods 
beyond.  In  a few  moments  a terrible  storm  oi 
shot  and  shell  and  the  rattle  of  small-arma 
brought  every  man  to  his  horse.  We  eoon  learned 
that  the  enemy  had  formed  an  ambuscade  up 
the  road  in  the  woods,  and  the  head  of  Gregg’® 
Brigade  had  ridden  squarely  into  it.  The  entire 
head  of  the  column  was  killed  or  captured* 
Gen.  Gregg  and  most  of  his  staff  were  prisoners. 

Our  lines  were  soon  formed  and  the  wood® 
were  cleared.  Repressing  the  river  we  pushed 


HEADING  OFF  LEE. 


313 


on,  hoping  to  reach  the  head  of  their  column.  It 
was  near  midnight  on  the' 8th  when  we  halted 
for  a short  rest,  knowing  that  early  dawn  must 
find  us  on  the  march.  Men  and  horses  were 
worn  and  tired. 

While  we  were  bivouacking  for  a short  rest 
the  shrill  whistle  of  locomotives  aroused  us. 
Then  came  a few  carbine  shots;  then  rose  the 
loud  cheering  of  many  voices.  We  soon  learned 
that  Lee’s  supply  trains  from  Lynchburg  had  run 
into  Custer’s  command  and  had  all  been  cap- 
tured. The  exciting  events  of  the  night  al- 
lowed us  but  little  rest,  and  at  early  dawn  we 
were  again  in  the  saddle.  We  soon  passed  the 
captured  trains  and  the  debris  of  Custer’s  fight 
the  night  before.  A little  farther  on  we  came 
upon  a Confederate  wagon  train  standing  in  the 
road.  The  pursuit  was  now  so  close  and  hot  that 
no  one  stopped  to  disturb  or  destroy.  We  were 
not  after  empty  wagons,  but  Lee’s  army. 

Forming  a line-of -battle,  we  advanced  across  a 
field  and  down  through  the  woods  beyond.  Now 
the  battle  opens  and  the  sharp  reports  along  the 
skirmish-line  denote  that  we  have  found  *the 
enemy  again.  Our  thin  line  of  cavalry  is  long 
drawn  out  to  the  left,  but  we  must  hold  them 
back  until  the  infantry  comes  up  in  the  rear  as 
they  did  at  Sailor’s  Creek.  A desperate  strug- 
gle along  our  line  is  made  to  force  us  back,  but 


314 


OTHER  STORIES. 


the  men  .were  never  at  better  advantage  in  the 
flush  of  victory. 

In  a short  time,  to  our  astonishment,  heavy 
columns  of  infantry  appear  on  our  right  and  re- 


lieve a portion  of  our  line.  Where  did  these  fel- 
lows come  from?  Did  they  march  all  night? 
But  they  are  here  and  we  feel  sure  that  we  have 


HEADING  OFF  LEE. 


S15 


/he  Confederate  army  in  our  grasp.  Now  that 
the  infantry  is  up  we  move  to  the  left  and  as- 
sist our  hard-pressed  comrades  there.  Gen* 
Davies  to-day  commands  the  division,  our  own 
Col.  Avery  the  brigade,  and  Maj.  Blyun  the  regi- 
ment. One  of  the  last  moves  made  that  day  was 
a charge  of  our  regiment  across  the  field  up  to 
and  into  the  woods,  driving  back  the  Confeder- 
ate cavalry  and  I believe  capturing  some  artil- 
lery. Soon  the  white  flag  of  truce  fluttered  along 
our  lines.  - While  the  surrender  was  pending  a 
report  was  brought  to  Gen.  Davies  that  the  Con- 
federate cavalry  in  our  front  were  withdrawing 
from  their  line.'  An  officer  was  sent  out  to  in- 
quire the  cause.  The  Confederate  commander 
informed  him  that  his  men  were  riding  away  to 
save  their  horses,  and  he  had  no  means  to  pre- 
vent them.  About  four  o’clock  loud  cheering  on 
our  right  denoted  something  important,  and  soon 
word  came  down  the  line  that  the  surrender  had 
been  completed. 

Then  we  all  cheered!  Our  lines  were  with- 
drawn; our  work  was  done!  Our  men  hardly 
knew  what  to  do.  After  four  years  of  active 
campaigning,  and  now  no  mor^  scouting  not 
picketing  nor  fighting;  ne  enemy — nothing  to 
The  next  thought  was  of  the  friends  vl  the  far 
North.  Sow  they  would  rejoicel  Eow  we  would 
like  to  take  them  by  the  hand  that  bright  aftqg* 
noon  and  shout  with  them. 


316 


OTHER  STORIES. 


THE  130TH  IND. 


A COMRADE  WRITES  OF  NASHVILLE,  AND  TELLS 
A PERSIMMON  STORY. 


By  Lem  Jones, 
Co.  K,  130th  Ind. 


Editor  National  Tribune: 

I notice  an  account  of  the  part  taken  in  the 
battle  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  by  the  3d  Tenn.  and 
25th  Mich.,  by  John  Savage,  of  the  25th  Mich., 
and  also  an  account  of  the  same  battle  in  The 
National  Tribune  of  Dec.  9,  by  Ignatz  Fauz,  of 
the  6th  Tenn.,  which  calls  to  my  njind  very 
vividly  the  scenes  which  were  happening  many 
years  ago.  Both  comrades  speak  in  eulogizing 
terms  of  the  old  First  Brigade,  Second  Division, 
Twenty-third  Corps,  and  especially  the  three 
regiments  above  mentioned;  but  it  seems  that 
they  have  forgotten  that  the  130th  Ind.  always 
was  on  hand,  from  Resaca  to  Atlanta,  and  at 
Nashville. 

I do  not  wish  to  take  from  them  th©  laurels 
justly  earned,  but  one  would  infer  from  reading 
the  articles  referred  to  that  th©  25th  Mi^h*  and 
3d  and  6th  Tenn.  constituted  the  First  Brigade  ol 


THE  130TH  IND. 


317 


the  Second  Division.  I only  wish  to  add  to  what 
has  already  been  said  in  regard  to  the  First  Bri- 
gade, that  the  130th  Ind.  can  justly  claim  a share 
of  all  the  honors  won  by  the  brigade  after  the 
battle  of  Resaca. 

Comrade  Savage  does  not  say  in  his  article 
whether  it  was  during  the  first  day’s  fight  at 
Nashville  or  the  second  that  the  3d  Tenn.  charged 
without  orders.  I would  here  state  that  it  was 
• on  the  morning  of  the  second  day.  The  15th 
Ind.  battery  was  replying  to  the  compliments  of  a 
rebel  battery  that  was  making  it  too  uncomfort- 
able for  the  3d  Tenn.,  and  during  the  artillery 
duel  the  3d  Tenn.  rose  out  of  the  works,  soon 
followed  by  the  balance  of.  the  brigade,  and  cap- 
tured the  battery. 

Comrade  Fauz  is  just  a little  off  in  saying  that 
we  came  to  the  front  east  of  the  Granny  White 
pike,  for  we  were  to  the  right  of  the  pike  and  did 
not  strike  the  pike  till  the  second  day;  but  that 
is  immaterial.  I recollect  the  stone  wall  he 
speaks  of,  for  the  130th  was  just  to  the  right  of  it 
and  next  to  the  3d  Tenn.,  and  took  a hand  in 
capturing  the  battery  referred  to  by  him.  I wish 
to  state  for  the  information  of  all  concerned  tha* 
the  130th  Ind.  was  on  the  front  line-of-battle  both 
days  ot  tne  fight,  and  will  refer  them  to  Gen.  J. 
A.  Cooper,  of  St.  John,  Kan.,  for  the  truthfulness 
of  my  statements. 


818 


OTHER  STOEIES. 


I wish  ^>ake  mentis  of  how  Maj.  H.  Dunn, 
of  the  3d  Tenn.,  served  <fHovey’s  Babies.”  It 

WM  when  we  were  following  Eood  into  Alabama 


THE  130TH  IND. 


819 


from  Rome,  Ga.,  in  the  Fall  of  1864.  We  had 
marched  hard  and  were  short  of  hardtack.  We 
struck  our  first  persimmons,  which  were  just  be- 
ginning to  ripen.  The  officers  were  po'werless  to 
keep  us  in  ranks  when  there  were  persimmons 
in  sight.  I recollect  of  tackling  a persimmon 
bush,  and  Maj.  Dunn  said: 

“Sonny,  those  that  mash  on  the  ground  are  rot- 
ten; eat  the  hard  ones.” 

Then  I went  up  front  and  begged  for  a bit  of 
hardtack  to  eat,  for  I was  choking  and  pucker- 
■ ing.  Always  after  that  I felt  like  doing  some- 
thing to  Maj.  Dunn. 


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